Larry Edwin Miller

Miller Scientific

Purpose Laser endoureterotomy is a common minimally invasive treatment of ureteral strictures. However, data evaluating the durability of this technique are limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed treatment success rates after laser endoureterotomy for managing benign ureteral strictures. Materials and Methods A systematic liter...

This systematic review with meta-analysis compared the diagnostic accuracy of neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) and electrodiagnostic studies (EDX) as confirmatory tests for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) diagnosis. We used bivariate random-effects models to estimate pooled sensitivity and specificity and generate hierarchical summary receiver-operatin...

The objective of this study was to determine adherence to national guidelines for aerobic and muscle-strengthening physical activity among United States (US) adults and identify factors associated with guideline nonadherence. The 2022 National Health Interview Survey data were analyzed to evaluate self-reported physical activity among 26,494 US adu...

Purpose Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) are an increasingly prevalent class of drugs for managing overweight/obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Postmarket surveillance is essential for characterizing their risk profiles in real-world patient populations as clinical use increases. This study investigated the association of GL...

Background and objective Sexual minorities experience large-scale mental health disparities, yet recent national data on them remains scarce. This study aimed to examine the prevalence of depressive and anxiety symptoms by sexual orientation in a nationally representative sample of adults in the United States (US). Methods This cross-sectional anal...

Purpose: This meta-analysis aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of antioxidant supplementation for treating erectile dysfunction (ED). Materials and methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library for double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trials of oral antioxidant supplementation in men with ED. Erect...

Background Shared decision-making (SDM) is recommended for prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing but appears underutilized. This population-based study assessed the prevalence and determinants of SDM for PSA testing among US men. Methods We assessed PSA testing rates and SDM engagement in men aged 40 and older without prostate cancer history usi...

Objectives This work aims to determine the efficacy and safety of preoperative alpha‐blocker therapy on ureteroscopy (URS) outcomes. Methods In this systematic review and meta‐analysis of randomised trials of URS with or without preoperative alpha‐blocker therapy, outcomes included the need for ureteral dilatation, stone access failure, procedure...

Purpose To characterize patient outcomes following visually directed high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) for focal treatment of localized prostate cancer. Methods We performed a systematic review of cancer-control outcomes and complication rates among men with localized prostate cancer treated with visually directed focal HIFU. Study outcomes...

Background Studies comparing carpal tunnel release with ultrasound guidance (CTR-US) to mini-open CTR (mOCTR) are limited. This randomized trial compared the efficacy and safety of these techniques. Methods In this multicenter randomized trial, patients were randomized (2:1) to unilateral CTR-US or mOCTR. Outcomes included Boston Carpal Tunnel Que...

Background The duration of postoperative leave varies by the carpal tunnel release (CTR) technique. This study aimed to determine the time to return to work (RTW) after CTR with ultrasound (CTR-US) guidance and identify factors contributing to this duration. Methods This was a multicenter postmarket registry of patients treated with CTR-US. Time t...

Purpose The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and effectiveness of office-based carpal tunnel release with ultrasound guidance (CTR-US). Methods In this prospective multicenter observational study, patients were treated with CTR-US in an office setting. Outcomes were time to resume normal daily activities, time to return to work, B...

Purpose To determine the prevalence, incidence, and determinants of kidney stones among adults in the United States. Materials and Methods This cross-sectional observational study evaluated the lifetime prevalence of kidney stones and the 12-month incidence of kidney stone passage from the 2017 to 2020 National Health and Nutrition Examination Sur...

Background Pedicle screw loosening and breakage are common causes of revision surgery after lumbar fusion. Thus, there remains a continued need for supplemental fixation options that offer immediate stability without the associated failure modes. This finite element analysis compared the biomechanical properties of a novel cortico-pedicular posteri...

Background Intravascular lithotripsy (IVL) safely and effectively modifies calcified coronary lesions during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI). Data regarding its utility in modifying calcified left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease are limited. This study aimed to evaluate short-term outcomes of IVL-assisted LMCA PCI. Methods This retro...

Background Chronic liver diseases account for approximately 1.9 million deaths globally every year and negatively affect health-related quality of life. Early detection of liver disease may enable timely treatment, potentially improving patient outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of liver steatosis and fibrosis i...

Background The health benefits of regular aerobic exercise are well established, although there is limited high-quality evidence regarding its impact on erectile function. Aim To determine the effect of aerobic exercise on erectile function in men and to identify factors that may influence this effect. Methods This systematic review and meta-anal...

Purpose This study aimed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of mini-open carpal tunnel release (mOCTR) using best-evidence synthesis methods. Methods We systematically searched for prospective studies published from January 2013 to July 2023 that reported outcomes from a minimum of 50 mOCTR cases. The outcomes included Quick Disabilities of...

The number of Americans who report dissatisfaction with their quality of life has increased over the past several decades. This study investigated social- and health-related determinants of life dissatisfaction among adults in the United States (US). We conducted a cross-sectional observational study using data from the 2021 National Health Intervi...

Purpose The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic carpal tunnel release (ECTR) using best-evidence synthesis methods. Methods A systematic search of multiple databases was conducted for prospective contemporary studies published between January 2013 and January 2023 with at least...

Background: Comparative studies of carpal tunnel release with ultrasound guidance (CTR-US) vs. mini-open CTR (mOCTR) are limited, prompting development of this randomized trial to compare efficacy and safety of these techniques. Research design and methods: Patients were randomized (2:1) to CTR-US or mOCTR, treated by experienced hand surgeons (...

The rapid advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) technology in recent years have led to its integration into biomedical publishing. However, the extent to which AI has contributed to developing biomedical literature is unclear. This study aimed to identify trends in AI-generated content within peer-reviewed biomedical literature. We first tes...

Background The availability of large language models such as Chat Generative Pre-trained Transformer (ChatGPT, OpenAI) has enabled individuals from diverse backgrounds to access medical information. However, concerns exist about the accuracy of ChatGPT responses and the references used to generate medical content. Methods This observational study i...

Background Carpal tunnel release (CTR) is a common surgical procedure for patients with severe or refractory carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms. Historically, CTR procedures have been performed in a hospital or an ambulatory surgery center (ASC). However, due to advancements in techniques, greater patient demand, and concerns about growing healt...

Introduction: The determinants of time to return to activity (RTA) and return to work (RTW) after carpal tunnel release (CTR) remain unclear. Methods: We performed a systematic review of studies published from January 2000 to November 2022 involving patients treated with open (OCTR), mini-open (mOCTR), or endoscopic (ECTR) CTR and reporting RTA...

Objective: Pedicle screw fixation is a commonly utilized adjunct for lumbar interbody fusion, yet risks include screw malposition, pullout, loosening, neurovascular injury, and stress transfers leading to adjacent segment degeneration. This report describes the preclinical and initial clinical results of a minimally invasive, metal-free cortico-pe...

Objective: Genicular artery embolization (GAE) is a novel, minimally invasive procedure for treatment of knee osteoarthritis (OA). This meta-analysis investigated the safety and effectiveness of this procedure. Design: Outcomes of this systematic review with meta-analysis were technical success, knee pain visual analog scale (VAS; 0-100 scale),...

Background: Carpal tunnel release (CTR) is a surgical treatment option for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) symptoms that are unresponsive to conservative treatment. Most patients experience symptomatic relief after CTR regardless of the surgical technique. However, direct comparisons of the safety and effectiveness between CTR surgical...

Objective To determine long-term survival of inflatable penile prosthesis (PP) and identify potential factors that may influence device survival. Methods We performed a systematic review of Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for studies of men treated with inflatable PP with at least 5 years of device survival...

Objectives: To report outcomes of patients who underwent carpal tunnel release with ultrasound guidance (CTR-US) in routine clinical practice. Methods: This was a multicenter post-market registry of patients treated with CTR-US. Main outcomes included the Quick Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (QDASH), Boston Carpal Tunnel Q...

Objective Pharmacotherapy is often used to relieve lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), yet surgery may be indicated for persistent bothersome symptoms. BPH is common among older men, yet the burden of BPH among middle-aged men may be under-recognized. This study examined the 5-year risk of BPH surgery amon...

Background: Conventionally fractionated radiotherapy is a common treatment for men with localized prostate cancer. A growing consensus suggests that stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is similarly effective but less costly and more convenient for patients. The SpaceOAR hydrogel rectal spacer placed between the prostate and rectum reduces r...

Importance Patients with large annular defects following lumbar microdiscectomy for disc herniation are at increased risk for symptomatic recurrence and reoperation. Objective To determine whether a bone-anchored annular closure device in addition to lumbar microdiscectomy resulted in lower reherniation and reoperation rates vs lumbar microdiscect...

Background Patients with large defects in the annulus fibrosus following lumbar discectomy have high rates of symptomatic reherniation and reoperation. An FDA randomized controlled trial (RCT) with a bone-anchored device (Barricaid, Intrinsic Therapeutics, Woburn, MA) that occludes the annular defect reported significantly lower risk of symptomatic...

Objective The objective of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to report the safety of intra-articular hyaluronic acid (IAHA) in patients with symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods We identified randomized controlled trials reporting the safety of IAHA versus IA saline in adults with symptomatic knee OA. Main safety outcomes were...

It is imperative to thoroughly evaluate the safety, effectiveness, and cost-utility of a new medical device prior to the widespread adoption of the technology. Health technology assessment (HTA) is a systematic evaluation of the benefits and harms of a health technology that aims to inform healthcare policy decisions, improve utilization of cost-ef...

Objectives: To compare antimicrobial and resource utilization with T2 Magnetic Resonance (T2MR) versus blood culture (BC) in patients with suspected bloodstream infection. Methods: We systematically searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL for randomized trials or observational controlled studies of patients with suspected bloodstream infection receiv...

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) are highly prevalent in older men. The long-term clinical utility of lifestyle modification and oral medications for LUTS is limited. There is a great clinical need for safe, effective, and durable BPH therapies for men who unsuccessfully attempt conservative measur...

Introduction: Urosepsis is a serious potential complication of ureteroscopic procedures for stone disease, yet the risk factors for this complication are not well characterized. The purpose of this systematic review with meta-analysis was to identify potential risk factors for urosepsis following ureteroscopy for stone disease. Materials and meth...

Background: The mortality rate associated with Covid-19 varies considerably among studies and determinants of this variability are not well characterized. Methods: A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature published through March 31, 2020 was performed to estimate the mortality rate among hospitalized patients in China with a confirmed dia...

This article contains data on country-specific variability in Covid-19 prevalence, incidence, and case fatality rate among the 238 countries globally. We used the World Health Organization worldwide Covid-19 tracking site to determine the number of confirmed Covid-19 cases, the number of fatalities attributed to Covid-19, and the case fatality rate...

Background: Water vapor thermal therapy (WVTT) is a minimally invasive procedure for treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). There are no known systematic reviews reporting the effectiveness and safety of this increasingly common BPH therapy. Methods: We performed a systematic review and meta-an...

Dual-mobility constructs have been shown to significantly and substantially decrease dislocations after revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). The authors have previously shown that dual-mobility (DM) constructs are cost-effective given their ability to decrease dislocations and re-revision for dislocation. The goal was to report the costs of DM an...

Importance Perirectal spacers are intended to lower the risk of rectal toxic effects associated with prostate radiotherapy. A quantitative synthesis of typical clinical results with specific perirectal spacers is limited. Objective To evaluate the association between perirectal hydrogel spacer placement and clinical outcomes of men receiving radio...

Background: Since the first occurrence of coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), a number of online tools have become available to assist with tracking Covid-19 prevalence. Yet we are unaware of resources that provide country-specific Covid-19 incidence data. Methods: We undertook a descriptive analysis of the global impact of Covid-19 using data...

Purpose: The surgical reintervention rate after prostatic urethral lift (PUL) is not well characterized, but has been estimated at 2-3%/yr. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the surgical reintervention rate after PUL. Materials and methods: We systematically searched Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Central Registe...

The objective of this review was to compare the efficacy and safety of conservative surgery with or without adjunctive presacral neurectomy (PN) for chronic endometriosis-related pelvic pain. In a systematic review with meta-analysis, randomized or nonrandomized controlled studies of conservative endometriosis surgery with or without adjunctive PN...

Introduction: Patients with lumbar disc herniation and associated sciatica are often referred for lumbar discectomy. The surgical defect in the annulus fibrosus is typically left unrepaired after lumbar discectomy. Patients with large postsurgical annular defects (≥6 mm width) have a higher risk of symptom recurrence and reoperation compared to tho...

Objective Vertebral endplate disruptions (VEPD) are common findings on imaging after lumbar surgery. The objective of this study was to explore the clinical implications of VEPD development following lumbar discectomy with or without implant with a bone-anchored annular closure device (ACD). Methods This was a multicenter randomized controlled tri...

Introduction: Clinical trial manuscripts commonly report results of individual endpoints. However, durability of a medical treatment may be difficult to determine when evaluating endpoint outcomes individually. We reviewed pivotal trial manuscripts of two minimally invasive benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) treatments and estimated the rate of tre...

Introduction Minimally invasive spine surgery has become more prevalent in recent years, but the delivery of interbody devices with small footprints may insufficiently restore the disc space, which may lead to instability and non-union. Vertically expandable interbody implants have partially addressed this limitation, but lateral fusion support rem...

Background Intra-articular hyaluronic acid (HA) injections and oral nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common treatments for symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the comparative effects of these treatments are unclear. Purpose To compare the efficacy and safety of intra-articular HA injections compared with oral NSAIDs for...

An abstract is not required for a Letter to the Editor.

Background Awareness of treatment group assignment in a clinical trial may influence patient behavior and bias outcome reporting. The objective of this study was to compare 2-year clinical outcomes in blinded vs unblinded patients who were treated with lumbar discectomy and a bone-anchored annular closure device (ACD) for prevention of lumbar disc...

Background: Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) has emerged as a safe and effective treatment option for women with symptomatic uterine fibroids and can be delivered by laparoscopic, transvaginal, or transcervical approaches. The evidence regarding typical patient outcomes with RFA has not previously been examined in a comprehensive fashion. Materials a...

Purpose To determine the safety and effectiveness of limited lumbar discectomy with additional implantation of an annular closure device (ACD) among patients at high risk of herniation recurrence treated in routine clinical practice. Methods This was a prospective, single-center study of lumbar discectomy for sciatica caused by intervertebral disc...

Background: The risk of recurrent herniation after lumbar discectomy is highest during the first postoperative year. The purpose of this study was to determine whether implantation of a bone-anchored annular closure device (ACD) following limited lumbar discectomy reduced the risk of recurrent herniation and complications during the first year of...