Impact of Prostate Cancer-related Genitourinary Radiation Injury on Mental Health Diagnosis and Treatment: Assessment of 55,425 Men.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of low-grade radiation injury (LGRI) and high-grade radiation injury (HGRI) following prostate cancer treatment with mental health diagnoses and therapy. METHODS: A retrospective study of men diagnosed with prostate cancer who were treated with radiotherapy. Men were followed to assess for LGRI or HGRI using IBM MarketScan. Cohorts included: no injury (no-RI), LGRI, HGRI, and controls. Mental health diagnoses and related treatment (medication/therapy) were identified using ICD-10 codes, CPT codes, and national drug codes. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model from time of radiation to first instance of mental health diagnosis was modeled against injury group, age, and comorbidities. RESULTS: Between 2011 and 2020 we identified 55,425 men who received radiotherapy for prostate cancer. 22,879 (41.3%) experienced a LGRI while 4128 (7.4%) experienced a HGRI. Prior to radiation therapy, mental health diagnoses were equally distributed across cohorts (P > .05). Every marker of mental health showed a step-wise increase in incidence from no-RI to LGRI to HGRI except for alcohol abuse. Use of mental health medications and therapy visits were slightly more likely in the LGRI and HGRI groups prior to radiation, however, this difference was greatly increased postradiation therapy. LGRI (HR 1.38; P < .001) and HGRI (HR 2.1; P < .001) were independently associated with an increased likelihood of mental health diagnoses. CONCLUSION: LGRI and HGRI following prostate cancer radiotherapy are associated with increased risk of mental health diagnosis, medication use, and therapy need compared to men who do not develop injuries. The most common mental health diagnoses were depression and anxiety.

Genitourinary Radiation Injury Following Prostate Cancer Treatment: Assessment of Cost and Health Care System Burden.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the healthcare resource impact of radiation injury following prostate cancer treatment. METHODS: Using IBM MarketScan, we performed a retrospective study of men with prostate cancer who were treated with radiotherapy and subsequently developed low-grade (LGRI) and high-grade radiation injury (HGRI). Radiation injury diagnoses included bladder neck stenosis, hematuria/cystitis, fistula, ureteral stricture, and incontinence. LGRI and HGRI included injury diagnosis without intervention and with intervention, respectively. Health care visits and costs were measured over 5 time periods including 2 years before radiation, 1 year before radiation, radiation to injury diagnosis, injury diagnosis to first intervention (LGRI), and following first intervention (HGRI). Negative binomial regression modeling was used to assess the effect of radiation injury on average cost adjusting for demographics and comorbidities. RESULTS: Between 2008 and 2017, we identified 121,027 men who received radiotherapy following prostate cancer diagnosis of which 10,057 (8.3%) experienced a HGRI. The frequency of urologic visits and average costs were similar in those without injury and LGRI. However, men with HGRI experienced higher visit frequency and monthly costs. Amongst high-grade injuries, urinary fistula had the highest frequency of visit utilization at 378 visits before first intervention and 245 visits after first intervention. Following radiation injury diagnosis, the average monthly cost was twice as high in those with HGRI ($85.78) compared to LGRI ($38.66). CONCLUSIONS: HGRI was associated with increased urologic health care use and average monthly cost when compared to those who experienced LGRI or no injury. Urinary fistula was associated with the largest resource burden.

Prior COVID-19 infection associated with increased risk of newly diagnosed erectile dysfunction.

We sought to assess if COVID-19 infection recovery is associated with increased rates of newly diagnosed erectile dysfunction. Using IBM MarketScan, a commercial claims database, men with prior COVID-19 infection were identified using ICD-10 diagnosis codes. Using this cohort along with an age-matched cohort of men without prior COVID-19 infection, we assessed the incidence of newly diagnosed erectile dysfunction. Covariates were assessed using a multivariable model to determine association of prior COVID-19 infection with newly diagnosed erectile dysfunction. 42,406 men experienced a COVID-19 infection between January 2020 and January 2021 of which 601 (1.42%) developed new onset erectile dysfunction within 6.5 months follow up. On multivariable analysis while controlling for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, smoking, obesity, hypogonadism, thromboembolism, and malignancy, prior COVID-19 infection was associated with increased risk of new onset erectile dysfunction (HR 1.27; 95% CI 1.1-1.5; P = 0.002). Prior to the widespread implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine, the incidence of newly diagnosed erectile dysfunction is higher in men with prior COVID-19 infection compared to age-matched controls. Prior COVID-19 infection was associated with a 27% increased likelihood of developing new-onset erectile dysfunction when compared to those without prior infection.

Physician cesarean delivery rates and severe perinatal morbidity among low-risk nulliparas.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the individual physician cesarean delivery rate associated with serious perinatal morbidity. STUDY DESIGN: Study of nulliparous, term, singleton, vertex deliveries with maternal-neonatal dyad data (2015-2017) in the MarketScan Research Database. An individual cesarean delivery rate was calculated for all delivering physicians. The primary maternal outcome included transfusion of ≥4 units of blood, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, venous thromboembolism, or hysterectomy. The primary neonatal outcome included hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy, seizure, cardiopulmonary resuscitation or ventilator use (within 24 h), or ICU admission. Multivariable modeling of the association between physician cesarean delivery rate and each outcome was performed. RESULTS: Among 77,058 maternal-neonatal dyads, the maternal composite occurred in 1.3% of deliveries and neonatal composite in 3.6% of deliveries. The likelihood of the maternal (aOR 1.03 for each 3% increase in physician cesarean delivery rate, 95% CI 1.021-1.043) and neonatal (aOR 1.02 for each 3% increase, 95% CI 1.014-1.027) composite outcome increased linearly with increasing physician cesarean delivery rate. CONCLUSIONS: Severe perinatal morbidity was associated with increasing individual physician cesarean delivery rates.

Impact of Partial Meal Replacement on Glycemic Levels and Body Weight in Indian Patients with Type 2 Diabetes (PRIDE): A Randomized Controlled Study.

INTRODUCTION: Partial meal replacement (PMR) offers potential glycemic and weight control benefits in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. We evaluated the clinical impact of PMR (diabetes-specific nutritional supplement [DSNS]) in overweight/obese Indian patients with T2DM. METHODS: PRIDE, a 12-week, phase IV, open-label, multicenter study randomized (1:1) newly diagnosed T2DM patients (≤ 1 year) to either DSNS plus standard of care (SOC; diabetes treatment with dietary counseling) group (PMR) or SOC alone group (SOC). The primary endpoint was mean change in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to week 12. Secondary endpoints were changes in glucose profiles, body weight, waist circumference, lipid profile, and factors impacting quality-of-life (QoL) at week 6 and 12 from baseline. Safety was assessed throughout the study. RESULTS: Of the 176 patients enrolled, 171 (n = 85 in PMR group; n = 86 in SOC group) were included in the modified intent-to-treat population. The mean reduction in HbA1c at week 12 from baseline in PMR group was significant compared to the SOC group (- 0.59 vs. - 0.21%, p = 0.002). At week 12, the PMR group showed significant reduction in mean body weight (- 2.19 vs. - 0.22 kg; p = 0.001) and waist circumference (- 2.34 vs. - 0.48 cm; p = 0.001) compared to SOC group. Mean fasting plasma glucose and post-prandial glucose significantly reduced from baseline at week 6 and 12 in each group (p < 0.05). No significant change was observed in lipid profile. QoL parameters (treatment adherence, general well-being, and energy fulfilment) in the PMR were significantly better than SOC group (p < 0.05). Patients were satisfied with the taste of DSNS. No serious adverse events were reported. CONCLUSIONS: DSNS is an encouraging option for PMR strategy, as it significantly improved HbA1c, body weight, waist circumference, and overall well-being among overweight/obese Indian T2DM patients. TRIAL IDENTIFICATION NO: CTRI/2019/10/021595.

Risk of Postoperative Thromboembolism in Men Undergoing Urological Prosthetic Surgery: An Assessment of 21,413 Men.

PURPOSE: We assessed venous thromboembolism (VTE) and associated risk factors following artificial urinary sphincter (AUS) and inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using IBM® MarketScan, a commercial claims database, patients undergoing AUS and IPP surgery were identified using CPT® and ICD (International Classification of Diseases)-10 procedure codes between 2008 and 2017. ICD-9 and -10 codes were used to identify health care visits associated with lower extremity deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) within 90 days of surgery. Covariates were assessed using a multivariable model to determine association with outcome of DVT and/or PE. RESULTS: A total of 21,413 men underwent AUS (4,870) or IPP (16,543) surgery between 2008 and 2017 with a median age of 62 years and 68 years, respectively. DVT and PE events following AUS and IPP surgery occurred in 1.54% and 1.04%, respectively. A history of varicose veins (HR 2.76; 95% CI 1.11-6.79), prior history of DVT (HR 13.65; 95% CI 7.4-25.19), or PE (HR 7.65; 95% CI 4.01-14.6) in those undergoing AUS surgery was highly associated with development of postoperative VTE. Likewise, prior history of DVT (HR 12.6; 95% CI 7.99-19.93) and PE (HR 8.9; 95% CI 5.6-14.13) was strongly associated with a VTE event following IPP surgery. CONCLUSIONS: In a large cohort of men undergoing AUS and IPP surgery, 1.54% and 1.04% of men experienced a VTE event within 90 days of surgery, respectively. Prior history of varicose veins, DVT, and PE was associated with an increased likelihood of developing a postoperative DVT or PE.

Neural microprobe modelling and microfabrication for improved implantation and mechanical failure mitigation.

Careful design and material selection are the most beneficial strategies to ensure successful implantation and mitigate the failure of a neural probe in the long term. In order to realize a fully flexible implantable system, the probe should be easily manipulated by neuroscientists, with the potential to bend up to 90°. This paper investigates the impact of material choice, probe geometry, and crucially, implantation angle on implantation success through finite-element method simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics followed by cleanroom microfabrication. The designs introduced in this paper were fabricated using two polyimides: (i) PI-2545 as a release layer and (ii) photodefinable HD-4110 as the probe substrate. Four different designs were microfabricated, and the implantation tests were compared between an agarose brain phantom and lamb brain samples. The probes were scanned in a 7 T PharmaScan MRI coil to investigate potential artefacts. From the simulation, a triangular base and 50 µm polymer thickness were identified as the optimum design, which produced a probe 57.7 µm thick when fabricated. The probes exhibit excellent flexibility, exemplified in three-point bending tests performed with a DAGE 4000Plus. Successful implantation is possible for a range of angles between 30° and 90°. This article is part of the theme issue 'Advanced neurotechnologies: translating innovation for health and well-being'.

Cleanroom strategies for micro- and nano-fabricating flexible implantable neural electronics.

Implantable electronic neural interfaces typically take the form of probes and are made with rigid materials such as silicon and metals. These have advantages such as compatibility with integrated microchips, simple implantation and high-density nanofabrication but tend to be lacking in terms of biointegration, biocompatibility and durability due to their mechanical rigidity. This leads to damage to the device or, more importantly, the brain tissue surrounding the implant. Flexible polymer-based probes offer superior biocompatibility in terms of surface biochemistry and better matched mechanical properties. Research which aims to bring the fabrication of electronics on flexible polymer substrates to the nano-regime is remarkably sparse, despite the push for flexible consumer electronics in the last decade or so. Cleanroom-based nanofabrication techniques such as photolithography have been used as pattern transfer methods by the semiconductor industry to produce single nanometre scale devices and are now also used for making flexible circuit boards. There is still much scope for miniaturizing flexible electronics further using photolithography, bringing the possibility of nanoscale, non-invasive, high-density flexible neural interfacing. This work explores the fabrication challenges of using photolithography and complementary techniques in a cleanroom for producing flexible electronic neural probes with nanometre-scale features. This article is part of the theme issue 'Advanced neurotechnologies: translating innovation for health and well-being'.

Vitamin D Supplementation Modulates Platelet-Mediated Inflammation in Subjects With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Recently, our group identified increased platelet-mediated inflammation in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) patients, and it is a well-established risk factor for diabetes complications, particularly for the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Furthermore, vitamin D is reported to play an important role in the modulation of platelet hyperactivity and immune function, although the effect of vitamin D on platelet-mediated inflammation is not well studied. Hence, we aimed to investigate the effect of vitamin D supplementation on platelet-mediated inflammation in T2DM patients. Methods: After screening a total of 201 subjects, our randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included 59 vitamin-D-deficient T2DM subjects, and the participants were randomly assigned to placebo (n = 29) or vitamin D3 (n = 30) for 6 months. Serum vitamin D metabolite levels, immunome profiling, platelet activation, and platelet-immune cell aggregate formation were measured at baseline and at the end of the study. Similarly, the serum levels of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines were assessed by a multiplex assay. Results: Six months of vitamin D supplementation increases the serum vitamin D3 and total 25(OH)D levels from the baseline (p < 0.05). Vitamin D supplementation does not improve glycemic control, and no significant difference was observed in immune cells. However, platelet activation and platelet immune cell aggregates were altered after the vitamin D intervention (p < 0.05). Moreover, vitamin D reduces the serum levels of IL-18, TNF-α, IFN-γ, CXCL-10, CXCL-12, CCL-2, CCL-5, CCL-11, and PF-4 levels compared to the baseline levels (p < 0.05). Our ex vivo experiment confirms that a sufficient circulating level of vitamin D reduces platelet activation and platelet intracellular reactive oxygen species. Conclusion: Our study results provide evidence that vitamin D supportive therapy may help to reduce or prevent the disease progression and cardiovascular risk in T2DM patients by suppressing oxidative stress and platelet-mediated inflammation. Clinical Trial Registration: Clinical Trial Registry of India: CTRI/2019/01/016921.

Evaluating incidence, prevalence, and treatment trends in adult men with hypogonadism in the United States.

No extensive studies have investigated current diagnosis and treatment trends of hypogonadism (HG) in adult men in the United States. Using a comprehensive commercial insurance database, we surveyed current trends in incidence, prevalence, and treatment of hypogonadism in the United States. We analyzed insurance claims data from 2008-2017 using the IBM MarketScan™ Commercial Claims and Encounters database for men ≥18. Overall, we estimated annual incidence at 16.1 cases per 100,000 person-years, with the highest incidence seen among men 35-44 years at 21.5 cases per 100,000 person-years (IRR 1.83; 95% CI 1.63, 2.06, p < 0.001) and among those living in the Southern United States at 22.6 cases per 100,000 person-years (IRR 1.96; 95% CI 1.76, 2.18, p < 0.001). The prevalence of HG across the study period increased from 0.78% to 5.4%, while treatment rates decreased from 32.9% to 20.8%. These study findings provide a large-scale view of current diagnosis rates and treatment of hypogonadism in adult men in the United States. Despite the increase in prevalence of disease, there is an observed decline in treatment rates after diagnosis. Further investigations are needed to identify factors driving the observed decline in healthcare utilization among men with hypogonadism.

Regional variation in the incidence and prevalence of Peyronie's disease in the United States-results from an encounters and claims database.

In recent years there have been more studies dedicated to Peyronie's disease (PD). However, prevalence and incidence are likely underestimated, with limited information on regional variation in the rate of diagnosis. In this study, we sought to estimate age and regional variation of the annual incidence and prevalence of PD in the United States. We reviewed data from the IBM MarketScan™ Claims and Encounters database between 2008-2017 for men ≥18 years. Inclusion required ≥1 medical claim with PD, identified by ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes or ≥1 claim for intralesional injection for PD, identified by Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) code. Overall average annual incidence was estimated at 20.9 cases per 100,000, with the highest rate of 41.6 cases per 100,000 observed in men 55-64 years (RR = 8.2; p < 0.0001). Geographically, the highest incidence rate was observed in the South (23.9 cases per 100,000 men; RR = 1.30; p < 0.0001). Across all ages, overall prevalence of PD showed a general upward trend, from 0.052% in 2008 to 0.096% in 2017. Our findings suggest men in the southern U.S. are diagnosed more with PD compared to other regions. Identification of associated factors may allow for a more proactive approach to diagnosis and management.

Trends in treatment of Peyronie's disease in adult men in the United States from 2008 to 2017-results from an encounter and claims database.

Treatments for Peyronie's Disease (PD) include oral medications, intralesional injections, and surgery. Collagenase Clostridium histolyticum (CCh) is the only FDA-approved treatment for PD. We sought to examine current trends in treatment of PD across the United States. Using data in the MarketScan Database, we conducted a retrospective study of men with PD in the United States. Cases were identified by ICD-9 and 10 codes, and treatments were identified using NDC and CPT codes. Treatment rates were analyzed using a linear regression model, and a Cox proportional hazard function test was performed for time-to-treatment analysis. About 27.8% of men with PD were treated within a year of diagnosis. The annual treatment rate increased from 23.2 to 35.4%, and intralesional injection was the most used treatment. Over the study period, the percentage of men receiving treatment with oral medication increased from 0.66 to 20.5%, while the use of intralesional injection and surgery decreased. Increased odds of treatment were observed in men 45-54 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.21-1.50; p = 0) and in the southern region (OR 1.48; 95% CI, 1.39-1.56; p = 0). Trends in treatment of PD have changed over time. Intralesional injection remains the most used treatment option for men with PD.

Nephrectomy Is Not Associated with Increased Risk of Mortality or Acute Kidney Injury after High-Grade Renal Trauma: A Propensity Score Analysis of the Trauma Quality Improvement Program (TQIP).

PURPOSE: Patients with high-grade renal trauma (HGRT) undergoing nephrectomy may be at higher risk for mortality compared to those treated conservatively. However, no study has controlled for degree of hemorrhage as a measure of shock. We hypothesized that after controlling for blood transfusions and other factors, nephrectomy after HGRT would be associated with increased mortality and acute kidney injury (AKI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified adult patients with HGRT (American Association for the Surgery of Trauma grade III-V) in TQIP (2013-2017). Propensity scoring was used to adjust for the probability of nephrectomy. Conditional logistic regression was used to analyze the association between nephrectomy and mortality and AKI. We adjusted for patient characteristics, injury specifics, and physiological factors including blood transfusions. RESULTS: There were 12,780 patients with HGRT, and 1,014 (7.9%) underwent nephrectomy. Mortality was 10.6% and 4.2% in the nephrectomy and nonnephrectomy groups, respectively (p <0.001). In nephrectomy patients, 8.6% experienced AKI vs 2.4% of nonnephrectomy patients (p <0.001). In the adjusted analysis, there was no association between nephrectomy and mortality (OR=0.367, 95% CI 0.09-1.497, p=0.162). There was also no association between nephrectomy and AKI. Increasing age, nonCaucasian race, increasing Injury Severity Score, decreasing Glasgow Coma Score and blood transfusions were associated with higher mortality. For AKI, independent predictors included increasing age, male sex, and blood transfusions. CONCLUSIONS: After adjusting for volume of blood transfused in the first 24 hours, nephrectomy after HGRT was not associated with increased mortality or AKI. As a clinical principle, trauma nephrectomy should be avoided when possible.

Platelet Mediated Inflammation in Coronary Artery Disease with Type 2 Diabetes Patients.

BACKGROUND: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a well-established risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. Platelet hyperactivity and inflammation are associated with the development of coronary artery disease (CAD) in T2DM patients. We investigated the status of immune cells, platelet activation, and platelet-immune cell interactions in T2DM_CAD patients. METHODOLOGY: The study population consisted of four groups of subjects, healthy control (CT, n = 20), T2DM (n = 44), CAD (n = 20) and T2DM_CAD (n = 38). Platelet activation, immunome profiling and platelet-immune cell interactions were analysed by flow cytometry. The circulatory levels of inflammatory cytokines/chemokines were assessed using multiplex assay. RESULTS: Increased platelet activation and increased platelet-immune cell aggregate formation were observed in T2DM and T2DM_CAD groups compared to the control and CAD groups (p < 0.05). Our immunome profile analysis revealed, altered monocyte subpopulations and dendritic cell populations in T2DM, CAD and T2DM_CAD groups compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, significantly increased IL-1ß, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL12p70, IL-13 IL-18, CCL2, and decreased CXCL1, CCL5 levels were observed in T2DM_CAD group compared to the control group. Our ex-vivo study increased platelet-monocyte aggregate formation was observed upon D-glucose exposure in a time and concentration dependent manner. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that T2DM, CAD and T2DM_CAD are associated with altered immune cell populations. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that hyperglycemia induces platelet activation and forms platelet-immune cell aggregation which may lead to the release of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and contribute to the complexity of CAD and type 2 diabetes.

Nanotechnology Enables Novel Modalities for Neuromodulation.

Neuromodulation is of great importance both as a fundamental neuroscience research tool for analyzing and understanding the brain function, and as a therapeutic avenue for treating brain disorders. Here, an overview of conceptual and technical progress in developing neuromodulation strategies is provided, and it is suggested that recent advances in nanotechnology are enabling novel neuromodulation modalities with less invasiveness, improved biointerfaces, deeper penetration, and higher spatiotemporal precision. The use of nanotechnology and the employment of versatile nanomaterials and nanoscale devices with tailored physical properties have led to considerable research progress. To conclude, an outlook discussing current challenges and future directions for next-generation neuromodulation modalities is presented.

Erectile Dysfunction and Treatment: An Analysis of Associated Chronic Health Conditions.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the association between an erectile dysfunction (ED) diagnosis and other chronic health conditions, as well as, the association between receiving ED treatment and these conditions. METHODS: Data was reviewed from the IBM MarketScan Claims and Encounters database between 2008-2017 for men ≥18 years. Of this cohort, common chronic health conditions were identified and the associations of receiving ED treatment and having a chronic health condition was then analyzed. RESULTS: We identified 954 512 (38.3%) of the 2 489 069 men ≥18 years with at least one recorded diagnosis of ED, who also had at least one chronic health condition. Eighteen conditions were observed to be positively associated with ED, while eleven conditions were negatively associated. Depression (OR 2.875: 95% CI 2.866, 2.884; P<.001) had the strongest association, while ischemic heart disease (IHD) had the weakest (OR 0.76: 95% CI 0.755, 0.773; P<.001). CONCLUSION: Our study found that a diagnosis of ED was strongly associated with concomitant diagnoses of depression, hypertension, diabetes and several autoimmune diseases. Receiving treatment for ED varied between chronic health conditions.

The Future of Neuroscience: Flexible and Wireless Implantable Neural Electronics.

Neurological diseases are a prevalent cause of global mortality and are of growing concern when considering an ageing global population. Traditional treatments are accompanied by serious side effects including repeated treatment sessions, invasive surgeries, or infections. For example, in the case of deep brain stimulation, large, stiff, and battery powered neural probes recruit thousands of neurons with each pulse, and can invoke a vigorous immune response. This paper presents challenges in engineering and neuroscience in developing miniaturized and biointegrated alternatives, in the form of microelectrode probes. Progress in design and topology of neural implants has shifted the goal post toward highly specific recording and stimulation, targeting small groups of neurons and reducing the foreign body response with biomimetic design principles. Implantable device design recommendations, fabrication techniques, and clinical evaluation of the impact flexible, integrated probes will have on the treatment of neurological disorders are provided in this report. The choice of biocompatible material dictates fabrication techniques as novel methods reduce the complexity of manufacture. Wireless power, the final hurdle to truly implantable neural interfaces, is discussed. These aspects are the driving force behind continued research: significant breakthroughs in any one of these areas will revolutionize the treatment of neurological disorders.

Harnessing the Power of Smart and Connected Health to Tackle COVID-19: IoT, AI, Robotics, and Blockchain for a Better World.

As COVID-19 hounds the world, the common cause of finding a swift solution to manage the pandemic has brought together researchers, institutions, governments, and society at large. The Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI)-including machine learning (ML) and Big Data analytics-as well as Robotics and Blockchain, are the four decisive areas of technological innovation that have been ingenuity harnessed to fight this pandemic and future ones. While these highly interrelated smart and connected health technologies cannot resolve the pandemic overnight and may not be the only answer to the crisis, they can provide greater insight into the disease and support frontline efforts to prevent and control the pandemic. This article provides a blend of discussions on the contribution of these digital technologies, propose several complementary and multidisciplinary techniques to combat COVID-19, offer opportunities for more holistic studies, and accelerate knowledge acquisition and scientific discoveries in pandemic research. First, four areas, where IoT can contribute are discussed, namely: 1) tracking and tracing; 2) remote patient monitoring (RPM) by wearable IoT (WIoT); 3) personal digital twins (PDTs); and 4) real-life use case: ICT/IoT solution in South Korea. Second, the role and novel applications of AI are explained, namely: 1) diagnosis and prognosis; 2) risk prediction; 3) vaccine and drug development; 4) research data set; 5) early warnings and alerts; 6) social control and fake news detection; and 7) communication and chatbot. Third, the main uses of robotics and drone technology are analyzed, including: 1) crowd surveillance; 2) public announcements; 3) screening and diagnosis; and 4) essential supply delivery. Finally, we discuss how distributed ledger technologies (DLTs), of which blockchain is a common example, can be combined with other technologies for tackling COVID-19.

Nephrectomy is Associated with Increased Mortality after Renal Trauma: An Analysis of the National Trauma Data Bank from 2007-2016.

PURPOSE: The majority of high grade renal trauma can be managed conservatively. However, nephrectomy is still common for acute management. We hypothesized that when controlling for multiple injury severity measures, nephrectomy would be associated with increased mortality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified high grade renal trauma patients from the National Trauma Data Bank® from 2007-2016. Exclusion criteria were age <18 years, severe head injury and death within 4 hours of admission. We performed conditional logistic regression analysis to determine if nephrectomy was independently associated with mortality, controlling for age, gender, race/ethnicity, mechanism of injury, shock, blood transfusion, Glasgow Coma Scale, Revised Trauma Score and Injury Severity Score. Interaction was measured for mechanism of injury and shock with mortality. RESULTS: We identified 42,898 patients with high grade renal trauma (grade III-V), of whom 3,204 (7.5%) underwent nephrectomy. Unadjusted mortality was 16.6% in nephrectomy vs 5.7% in nonnephrectomy patients. In multivariable logistic regression, nephrectomy was associated with 82% increased odds of death (OR 1.82, 95% CI 1.63-2.03, p <0.001). Other significant associations with death included age, nonWhite race, penetrating mechanism, hypotension, blood transfusion, lower Glasgow Coma Scale, lower Revised Trauma Score and higher Injury Severity Score. The association between nephrectomy and death did not differ by mechanism of injury. However, it was slightly attenuated in patients presenting in shock. CONCLUSIONS: In the National Trauma Data Bank, nephrectomy is independently associated with increased risk of mortality after adjusting for patient demographics, injury characteristics and multiple measures of overall injury severity. Nephrectomy may impact overall survival and must be avoided when possible.