Repair of facial dog bite wound utilizing cryopreserved umbilical cord allograft.

BACKGROUND: In the United States, craniofacial injuries are the most frequently observed traumas in the pediatric population. Human birth tissue products contain growth factors, cytokines, and signaling molecules that can be potentially harnessed for tissue regeneration and wound healing. PURPOSE: A cryopreserved ultra-thick amniotic membrane (AM) allograft wound dressing was used in a patient with significant facial soft tissue loss due to a dog bite injury. METHODS: This is a single case report of a pediatric patient. After obtaining IRB exemption, operative and postoperative clinic notes were reviewed. RESULTS: A 10-year-old female presented to the emergency department after suffering a dog bite to her left cheek and upper lip, resulting in tissue loss. A cryopreserved ultra-thick AM allograft was used to cover the area of tissue loss as part of surgical reconstruction. The patient was followed up at 1 week, 3 weeks, 4 months, and 1 year after the graft was placed, and rapid healing and full epithelialization were achieved in addition to scar contracture due to wound location. CONCLUSION: In the setting of acute trauma and tissue loss, human birth tissue was found to promote epithelialization and regenerative healing of facial tissues.

Histopathologic Features of Mucosal Head and Neck Cancer Cachexia.

Objective: Determine the histopathologic features that correlate with head and neck cancer (HNC) cachexia. Methods: A single-institution, retrospective study was performed on adults with HPV-negative, mucosal squamous cell carcinoma of the aerodigestive tract undergoing resection and free flap reconstruction from 2014 to 2019. Patients with distant metastases were excluded. Demographics, comorbidities, preoperative nutrition, and surgical pathology reports were collected. Comparisons of histopathologic features and cachexia severity were made. Results: The study included 222 predominantly male (64.9%) patients aged 61.3 ± 11.8 years. Cachexia was identified in 57.2% patients, and 18.5% were severe (≥15% weight loss). No differences in demographics were identified between the groups. Compared to control, patients with severe cachexia had lower serum hemoglobin (p=0.048) and albumin (p < 0.001), larger tumor diameter (p < 0.001), greater depth of invasion (p < 0.001), and elevated proportions of pT4 disease (p < 0.001), pN2-N3 disease (p=0.001), lymphovascular invasion (p=0.009), and extranodal extension (p=0.014). Multivariate logistic regression identified tumor size (OR [95% CI] = 1.36 [1.08-1.73]), oral cavity tumor (OR [95% CI] = 0.30 [0.11-0.84]), and nodal burden (OR [95% CI] = 1.16 [0.98-1.38]) as significant histopathologic contributors of cancer cachexia. Conclusions: Larger, more invasive tumors with nodal metastases and aggressive histologic features are associated with greater cachexia severity in mucosal HNC.

Myringoplasty Using Human Birth Tissue Allografts to Repair Large Tympanic Membrane Perforations.

OBJECTIVE: Examine outcomes among a series of pediatric patients who underwent myringoplasty using human birth tissue (BT) for repair of large tympanic membrane (TM) perforations. STUDY DESIGN: Case series. SETTING: Single-institution pediatric hospital. METHODS: Retrospective chart review of patients treated with BT during a 4-year study period. Subjects who underwent myringoplasty for large (size 40% or greater) TM perforations were included for this study. Patients with a stable perforation of at least 1 month's duration preoperatively who then followed up for at least 3 months postoperatively met inclusion criteria. RESULTS: Six subjects were included in this study. One subject underwent bilateral repair; thus, this series includes a total of 7 perforations. TM perforations ranged from 40% to 70% of the TM. At initial follow-up (median of 2 months), 5 of the 7 perforations had healed. One of these 5 had evidence of a 10% recurrent perforation at 5 months, which subsequently healed. Of the 2 patients not healed at initial follow-up, 1 had only a residual pinpoint perforation that subsequently healed; the other had a persistent 30% perforation that was possibly related to their postoperative recovery period, which was complicated by a respiratory viral illness. CONCLUSION: For large TM perforations, myringoplasty with BT grafts may be a viable alternative to longer, more invasive procedures like tympanoplasty. Larger, randomized, prospective studies are needed.

Effectiveness of Kinematic Alignment-Total Knee Arthroplasty in Treating Preoperative Varus and Valgus Deformities in Patients With Knee Osteoarthritis.

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is surgically treated with total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Traditionally, TKA has been performed using a mechanical alignment (MA) philosophy. However, due to significant patient dissatisfaction with surgical outcomes, an alternate alignment approach, kinematic alignment (KA), has gained popularity. KA-TKAs have improved functional patient outcomes by restoring the patient's native joint line orientation and minimizing soft tissue releases compared to neutral alignment in MA-TKAs. This review explores the postoperative effectiveness of utilizing KA-TKA to treat knee OA in patients with preoperative varus and valgus deformities. A comprehensive literature search was conducted on PubMed and Biomed Central databases, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. The literature search focused on studies analyzing the postoperative TKA outcomes in knee OA patients with preoperative varus or valgus deformities whose surgeries followed a KA philosophy and those comparing KA-TKA with MA-TKA. The available clinical evidence indicates that KA-TKA can be a viable treatment option for individuals with knee OA. The alignment of phenotypes has little clinical significance concerning functional outcomes and implant survival rates following KA-TKA. Furthermore, surgery outcomes in patients with preoperative deformities who underwent KA-TKA were similar to those who underwent MA-TKA. KA-TKA produced significantly better functional outcomes than MA-TKA in certain aspects. However, studies with larger sample sizes and more extended follow-up periods that directly compare KA-TKA with MA-TKA in treating knee OA patients are needed to fully demonstrate the efficacy of each technique. Furthermore, further research into the effects of KA-TKA on implant survival rates will provide a better understanding of the benefits of this technique and ultimately lead to improved patient outcomes.

Oncologic Safety of Close Margins in Patients With Low- to Intermediate-Grade Major Salivary Gland Carcinoma.

Importance: Postoperative radiation therapy for close surgical margins in low- to intermediate-grade salivary carcinomas lacks multi-institutional supportive evidence. Objective: To evaluate the oncologic outcomes for low- and intermediate-grade salivary carcinomas with close and positive margins. Design, Setting, and Participants: The American Head and Neck Society Salivary Gland Section conducted a retrospective cohort study from 2010 to 2019 at 41 centers. Margins were classified as R0 (negative), R1 (microscopically positive), or R2 (macroscopically positive). R0 margins were subclassified into clear (>1 mm) or close (≤1 mm). Data analysis was performed from June to October 2023. Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcomes were risk factors for local recurrence. Results: A total of 865 patients (median [IQR] age at surgery, 56 [43-66] years; 553 female individuals [64%] and 312 male individuals [36%]) were included. Of these, 801 (93%) had parotid carcinoma and 64 (7%) had submandibular gland carcinoma, and 748 (86%) had low-grade tumors and 117 (14%) had intermediate-grade tumors, with the following surgical margins: R0 in 673 (78%), R1 in 168 (19%), and R2 in 24 (3%). Close margins were found in 395 of 499 patients with R0 margins (79%), for whom margin distances were measured. A total of 305 patients (35%) underwent postoperative radiation therapy. Of all 865 patients, 35 (4%) had local recurrence with a median (IQR) follow-up of 35.3 (13.9-59.1) months. In patients with close margins as the sole risk factor for recurrence, the local recurrence rates were similar between those who underwent postoperative radiation therapy (0 of 46) or observation (4 of 165 [2%]). Patients with clear margins (n = 104) had no recurrences. The local recurrence rate in patients with R1 or R2 margins was better in those irradiated (2 of 128 [2%]) compared to observed (13 of 64 [20%]) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.05; 95% CI, 0.01-0.24). Multivariable analysis for local recurrence found the following independent factors: age at diagnosis (HR for a 10-year increase in age, 1.33; 95% CI, 1.06-1.67), R1 vs R0 (HR, 5.21; 95% CI, 2.58-10.54), lymphovascular invasion (HR, 4.47; 95% CI, 1.43-13.99), and postoperative radiation therapy (HR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.04-0.29). The 3-year local recurrence-free survivals for the study population were 96% vs 97% in the close margin group. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of patients with low- and intermediate-grade major salivary gland carcinoma, postoperative radiation therapy for positive margins was associated with decreased risk of local recurrence. In isolation from other risk factors for local recurrence, select patients with close surgical margins (≤1 mm) may safely be considered for observation.

Correlating area deprivation index with initial stage at presentation and with follow up and recurrence within an advanced practice provider-led survivorship clinic.

INTRODUCTION: Living in disadvantaged neighborhoods has been shown to result in worse healthcare outcomes. The Area Deprivation Index (ADI) is a metric that ranks neighborhoods by socioeconomic disadvantage utilizing numerous factors including income, education, employment, and housing quality. METHODS: A retrospective review of all patients who underwent surveillance in an APP-led head and neck cancer survivorship clinic from Dec 2016 to Oct 2020 at an academic tertiary care center were included. Tumor characteristics, visit frequency, recurrence, number of missed appointments, loss of follow up, and ADI scores were collected. RESULTS: 543 patients were included in the study. A majority were male (69.9 %) and white race (84.9 %) with an average age of 64.6 years old. Average ADI national percentile score was 71.6(range: 17 to 100). ADI national percentile score was not predictive of tumor characteristics at initial presentation: lymphovascular invasion (p = 0.940; OR 1.0 [95 % CI: 0.9 to 1.1]), extranodal extension (p = 0.576; OR 1.0 [95 % CI: 0.9 to 1.2]), positive margins (p = 0.069; OR 0.9 [95 % CI: 0.9 to 1.0]). ADI national percentile score was not significantly correlated with loss to follow up (p = 0.153; OR 1.2 [95 % CI: 0.9 to 1.7] or cancer recurrence (p = 0.594; OR 1.0 [95 % CI: 0.9 to 1.1]). Missing one or more clinic visits was correlated with loss to follow up (p = 0.029; OR 13.1 [95 % CI: 1.3 to 131.7]. CONCLUSION: Living in a disadvantaged neighborhood did not correlate with negative tumor characteristics, loss to follow up, or recurrence within an APP-led survivorship head and neck cancer clinic.

Infantile Hemangioma Treated with Propranolol Readmission Trends, Complications of Therapy, and Cost: A PHIS Database Study.

Objective: To examine admission trends, complications, and costs for inpatient infantile hemangioma (IH) associated with propranolol therapy utilizing the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) database. Study Design. A retrospective cohort study was completed using the PHIS database. The PHIS database was queried from 2008 to 2020 for children without cardiac disease and between the ages of three weeks and one year who were admitted with a diagnosis of IH and administered propranolol. Admissions were trended annually and by geographic region. Primary outcomes were length of stay (LOS), readmission, mortality, propranolol-related complications, and costs. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were employed to identify predictors of the primary outcomes. Results: A total of 2290 unique patient encounters were identified. Admissions steadily decreased after 2011, with variations by geographic region. There was no mortality and only 60 (2.6%) propranolol-related complications. African-American race (odds ratio (OR) 1.20 [95% CI: 1.02-1.41]), respiratory comorbidities (OR 2.04 [95% CI: 1.42-2.93]), neurologic conditions (OR 1.34 [95% CI: 1.09-1.59]), admission to an intensive care unit (OR 1.31 [95% CI: 1.09-1.59]), bronchospasm (OR 1.37 [95% CI: 1.22-1.55]), and hyperkalemia (OR 1.86 [95% CI: 1.08-3.20]) were associated with increased LOS. Neurologic conditions (OR 2.87 [95% CI: 1.76-4.67]) and respiratory comorbidities (OR 2.48 [CI: 1.43-4.30]) were associated with readmission. Average cost per admission was $5,158 ($3,259 to $8,560 range). Conclusion: There is an overall national decline in rate of admissions for IH propranolol therapy. Inpatient admission may be beneficial for patients with neurologic or respiratory conditions.

Postoperative consequences of cancer cachexia after head and neck free flap reconstruction.

BACKGROUND: Cachexia is detrimental for patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). However, postoperative consequences of HNC cachexia remain unknown. METHODS: A 2014-2019 retrospective review was performed of adults undergoing aerodigestive HNC resection with free tissue reconstruction. Propensity score matching using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) of cachectic and control groups was employed to adjust for covariate imbalances followed by binary logistic regression on postoperative outcomes. RESULTS: Out of 252 total patients, 135 (53.6%) had cancer cachexia. The cohort was predominantly white (94.4%) males (65.1%) aged 61.5 ± 11.5 years with stage III-IV (84.1%) malignancy of the oral cavity (66.3%). After matching cohort pre- and intra-operative covariates using IPTW, cancer cachexia remained a strong, significant predictor of serious National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) complications (OR [95%CI] = 3.84 [1.80-8.21]) and major Clavien-Dindo complications (OR [95%CI] = 3.00 [1.18-7.60]). CONCLUSIONS: Cancer cachexia is associated with worse HNC free flap reconstruction outcomes.

Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion with a silicon nitride cage demonstrates early radiographic fusion.

Background: Degeneration of the lumbar spine is common in aging adults and reflects a significant morbidity burden in this population. In selected patients that prove unresponsive to non-surgical treatment, posterior lumbar fusion (PLF) surgery, with or without adjunctive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) can relieve pain and improve function. We describe here the radiographic fusion rates for PLF versus TLIF, using an intervertebral spinal cage made of silicon nitride ceramic (chemical formula Si3N4). Methods: This retrospective cohort analysis enrolled 99 patients from August 2013 to January 2017; 17 had undergone PLF at 24 levels, while 82 had undergone TLIF at 104 levels. All operations were performed by a single surgeon at one institution. Radiographic and clinical outcomes were compared between PLF and TLIF at 2 and 6 weeks and then at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months. Results: TLIF patients fused at higher rates compared to PLF at the 3-month (38.5% vs. 8.3%, P=0.006), 6-month (78.7% vs. 35.0%, P<0.001) and 12-month time periods (97.9% vs. 81.3%, P=0.018), with no difference at 24 months (100% vs. 94.4%, P=0.102). Index level segmental motion was significantly less and intervertebral disc height was improved in TLIF over PLF at all follow up intervals. Foraminal height was only greater in early follow up periods (2 weeks, 6 weeks and 3 months). TLIF patients experienced lover rates of PI-LL mismatch which was maintained across long term follow-up. Pelvic tilt was lower following TLIF compared to PLF, with no differences in complication rates between study groups. Conclusions: Our retrospective series demonstrated that TLIF performed with silicon nitride interbody cages led to earlier radiographic fusion, greater restoration of disc and foraminal height, increased segmental rigidity and improved sagittal alignment when compared to PLF alone.

Postoperative and 1-Year Functional Outcomes After Free Flap Surgery Among Patients 80 Years or Older.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the postoperative and 1-year functional outcomes after free flap surgery among patients ≥80 years old. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Single tertiary care center. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review of 596 patients who underwent head and neck ablation and reconstruction with free tissue over a 7-year period. Patients ≥80 years of age were included. RESULTS: Fifty patients were ≥80 years old, with an average age of 83.7 years. Ninety-day mortality was 12.0%, and those who died were of older age (87.5 vs 83.1 years, P = .036). Prior radiation therapy (odds ratio, 6.8 [95% CI, 1.1-42.7]) and a Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥3 (odds ratio, 10.0 [95% CI, 1.5-67.0]) were associated with an increased risk of 90-day mortality. Overall 21 (42.0%) patients experienced a 30-day complication; 7 (14.0%) were readmitted within 30 days; and 5 (10.0%) underwent additional flap-related operations. Flap failure occurred in 2 (4.0%) patients. Before surgery, 45 (90%) patients were living independently or within assisted living; among these, 19.5% declined to dependent functional status at 90-day follow-up. At 90 days, 2 (8.3%) of 24 patients remained tracheostomy dependent, and 20 (66.7%) of 30 patients required feeding tube supplementation. Among 42 patients, 36 (85.7%) had unrestricted or modified oral diets at 90 days. Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥2 was associated with an increased risk of 1-year mortality (odds ratio, 5.1 [95% CI, 1.4-18.6]). CONCLUSION: The potential for functional decline and risk of 90-day mortality should be discussed with patients aged ≥80 years.

Model of an Advanced Practice Provider-Led Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Clinic: Evaluation of a 4-Year Experience.

OBJECTIVE: To report the efficacy and safety of an advanced practice provider-led head and neck cancer survivorship clinic. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective chart review. SETTING: Tertiary academic medical center. METHODS: Patients were enrolled into the survivorship clinic after undergoing 1-year follow-up with the primary head and neck surgeon. Those enrolled between December 2016 and October 2020 were retrospectively reviewed for diagnosis, staging, pattern of recurrence, visit frequency, and compliance. Surgical respectability of recurrent disease was used as a surrogate for timely diagnosis. RESULTS: An overall 570 patients were followed within the survivorship clinic. The mean length of follow-up was 13.6 months. Mucosal primaries represented 72.6% of patients. A majority of the primary malignancies were squamous cell carcinoma (77.7%). The most common primary subsites were the oropharynx (26.7%), oral cavity (25.1%), cutaneous (17.0%), and larynx (15.3%). Recurrence was detected in 50 patients (8.8%): 26 local, 12 regional, and 14 distant. Two patients had multiple synchronous recurrences. Twelve (2.1%) second primary cancers were detected. Of the 36 cases of locoregional recurrence, 32 (88.9%) were deemed amenable to salvage surgical intervention, with or without adjuvant therapy. Negative margins were obtained in 21 of the 23 (91.3%) local recurrences that underwent salvage resection. CONCLUSION: Advanced practice provider-based surveillance of head and neck cancer, without risk stratification, appears to be a sound model but needs further prospective evaluation. Consistent with literature, 88.9% of patients with locoregional recurrence were candidates for curative-intent salvage surgery, emphasizing that recurrences are identified in a timely fashion.

Bedside Neck Exploration for Venous Flow Coupler Signal Loss in Postoperative Free Tissue Transfer Monitoring.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the role and efficacy of bedside neck exploration following free tissue transfer. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective case series. SETTING: Single tertiary care institution. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted of 353 patients who underwent free tissue transfer between January 2017 and April 2021. Bedside exploration was performed under mild sedation in patients who had loss of venous Doppler signal with equivocal clinical signs of venous insufficiency. RESULTS: A total of 11 patients underwent bedside assessment of the microvascular pedicle. In 6 cases, a return to the operating room was avoided. Five of these patients had coupler malfunction, and in 1 patient a venous kink was discovered and remedied at the bedside. Five patients required return to the operating room. Venous thrombosis requiring thrombectomy and revision of the venous anastomosis was discovered in 3 patients. One patient had a developing hematoma necessitating evacuation in the operating room, and 1 returned to the operating room due to sternocleidomastoid muscular compression of the venous pedicle. There were no flap failures within the study group. In all cases, broad-spectrum intravenous antibiotic coverage was prophylactically used, and no instances of wound infection were observed. Avoidance of returning to the operating room prevented an estimated $9222 of hospital charges per event. CONCLUSION: Bedside neck exploration can be incorporated as a safe and cost-effective intermediary for definitive determination of need for return to the operating room.

Prospective Multicenter Comparison of Open and Robotic Radical Prostatectomy: The PROST-QA/RP2 Consortium.

PURPOSE: Our goal was to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) and open radical prostatectomy (ORP) in a multicenter study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We evaluated men with localized prostate cancer at 11 high-volume academic medical centers in the United States from the PROST-QA (2003-2006) and the PROST-QA/RP2 cohorts (2010-2013) with a pre-specified goal of comparing RALP (549) and ORP (545). We measured longitudinal patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) at pre-treatment and at 2, 6, 12, and 24 months, and pathological and perioperative outcomes/complications. RESULTS: Demographics, cancer characteristics, and margin status were similar between surgical approaches. ORP subjects were more likely to undergo lymphadenectomy (89% vs 47%; p <0.01) and nerve sparing (94% vs 89%; p <0.01). RALP vs ORP subjects experienced less mean intraoperative blood loss (192 vs 805 mL; p <0.01), shorter mean hospital stay (1.6 vs 2.1 days; p <0.01), and fewer blood transfusions (1% vs 4%; p <0.01), wound infections (2% vs 4%; p=0.02), other infections (1% vs 4%; p <0.01), deep venous thromboses (0.5% vs 2%; p=0.04), and bladder neck contractures requiring dilation (1.6% vs 8.3%; p <0.01). RALP subjects reported less pain (p=0.04), less activity interference (p <0.01) and higher incision satisfaction (p <0.01). Surgical approach (RALP vs ORP) was not a significant predictor of longitudinal HRQOL change in any HRQOL domain. CONCLUSIONS: In high-volume academic centers, RALP and ORP patients may expect similar long-term HRQOL outcomes. Overall, RALP patients have less pain, shorter hospital stays, and fewer post-surgical complications such as blood transfusions, infections, deep venous thromboses, and bladder neck contractures.

Direct Oral Anticoagulants in Select Patients With Hypercoagulable Disorders.

OBJECTIVE: To summarize the literature assessing the safety and efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) for the acute treatment and secondary prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in select patients with hypercoagulable disorders. DATA SOURCES: An electronic PubMed literature search was conducted from January 2010 to July 2020 using the following keywords: DOAC, rivaroxaban, apixaban, dabigatran, edoxaban, thrombophilia, cancer, antiphospholipid syndrome, protein C deficiency, protein S deficiency, antithrombin deficiency, factor V Leiden, prothrombin G20210A gene mutation, congenital thrombophilia, hypercoagulable, hereditary thrombophilia, acquired thrombophilia. STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION: Articles were included if they reported clinical outcomes associated with cancer-associated VTE, antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), and other hereditary thrombophilias. DATA SYNTHESIS: The safety and efficacy of using a DOAC is highly dependent on the type of hypercoagulable disease state. Current trials support the use of edoxaban, rivaroxaban, and apixaban for the treatment of cancer-associated thrombosis (CAT), with apixaban being preferred because of lower bleeding rates compared with standard of care. The use of DOACs, especially rivaroxaban, have been associated with worse outcomes in patients with APS, whereas data on DOAC use in hereditary thrombophilia remains scarce and limited to low-risk patients. RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE: This review evaluates the literature assessing the safety and efficacy of DOACs in patients with various hypercoagulable disorders. CONCLUSIONS: The current body of evidence supports the use of select DOACs for the treatment of CAT. In contrast, DOAC use in patients with APS and hereditary thrombophilia should be avoided at this time.

Oil palm cultivation can be expanded while sparing biodiversity in India.

India is the world's largest consumer and importer of palm oil. In an aggressive push towards self-sufficiency in vegetable oils, the Indian government is prioritizing the rapid expansion of domestic oil palm plantations to meet an expected doubling in palm oil consumption in the next 15 years. Yet the current expansion of oil palm in India is occurring at the expense of biodiversity-rich landscapes. Using a spatially explicit model, we show that at the national scale India appears to have viable options to satisfy its projected national demand for palm oil without compromising either its biodiversity or its food security. At finer spatial scales, India's oil palm expansion needs to incorporate region-specific contingencies and account for trade-offs between biodiversity conservation, climate change, agricultural inputs and economic and social security. The policy decisions that India takes with respect to oil palm can substantially reduce future pressures to convert forests to oil palm plantations in the tropics globally.

Testing a best practices risk result format to communicate genetic risks.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effect of a genetic report format using risk communication "best-practices" on risk perceptions, in part to reduce risk overestimates. METHODS: Adults (N = 470) from the Coriell Personalized Medicine Collaborative (CPMC) were randomized to a 2 × 2 experimental design to receive a hypothetical "personalized" genetic risk result for leukemia (relative risk = 1.5 or 2.5) through either the standard CPMC report (N = 232) or an enriched report informed by best practices (N = 238). A one-time, online survey assessed numeracy and risk perceptions including "feelings of risk" and a numerical estimate. RESULTS: Regardless of numeracy, participants who received the enriched report had fewer overestimates of their lifetime risk estimate (LRE; odds ratio = 0.19, p < .001) and lower feelings of risk on two of three measures (p < .001). Participants with higher numeracy scores had fewer overestimates of LRE (OR = 0.66, p < .001) and lower feelings of risk on two out of three measures (p ≤ .01); the interaction between numeracy and report format was non-significant. CONCLUSION: The enriched report produced more accurate LRE and lower risk perceptions regardless of numeracy level, suggesting the enriched format was helpful to individuals irrespective of numeracy ability. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Best practice elements in risk reports may help individuals form more accurate risk perceptions.

Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Direct-acting Oral Anticoagulants and Warfarin in Patients with Venous Thromboembolism and Active Cancer: An Observational Analysis.

PURPOSE: There is limited evidence to support the use of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) in patients with venous thromboembolism (VTE) and active cancer. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of DOACs versus warfarin for the prevention of recurrent VTE and major bleeding events in patients with VTE and active cancer. METHODS: We identified patients with incident VTE and active cancer who newly initiated treatment with DOACs or warfarin from Truven Health MarketScan Commercial Claims and Medicare supplemental databases. Patients were followed up from treatment initiation (index date) until the occurrence of >7-day gap in treatment, the start of the study comparator, an outcome of interest (recurrent VTE or major bleeding), inpatient death, disenrollment, or end of the study period, whichever occurred first. We controlled for confounders via propensity score matching and estimated the hazard ratios (HRs) using Cox proportional hazards regression models. FINDINGS: A total of 9952 patients were included in the matched cohort (4976 DOACs users and 4976 warfarin users). Patient characteristics were well balanced after matching. We observed a lower incidence of recurrent VTE (3 vs 5 per 100 person-years) and major bleeding events (2 vs 3 per 100 person-years) in the DOAC group compared to warfarin group, respectively. In Cox regression models, use of DOACs (vs warfarin) was associated with a lower risk of recurrent VTE (hazard ratio (HR), 0.59; 95% CI, 0.42-0.82) and major bleeding events (HR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.44-0.94). IMPLICATIONS: On the basis of our findings, among patients with VTE and active cancer, DOACs offer superior effectiveness with a lower risk of bleeding when compared with warfarin for the secondary prevention of VTE.

Transcranial Doppler Emboli Monitoring for Infective Endocarditis.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Ischemic stroke can occur in 20-55% of patients with infective endocarditis (IE) with 75% occurring during the first 2 weeks of treatment. CT or MRI brain can diagnose the sequelae of stroke but transcranial Doppler (TCD) can document active embolization. We undertook a retrospective review of our patient cohort and a systematic review of literature to assess the role of TCD in early diagnosis and management of ischemic stroke in IE. METHODS: Retrospective chart review and literature review. RESULTS: We found 89 patients with stroke caused by IE at our institution from December 2011 to April 2018. TCDs were obtained on 26 patients; 16 were abnormal for cerebrovascular abnormalities. Only 4 patients had 30-minute emboli monitoring performed, of which one revealed emboli. We found 3 studies investigating the role of TCDs in IE that showed promise in its use as a predictive tool in stroke risk stratification. CONCLUSIONS: Presence of embolization in the form of high-intensity transient signals (HITS) detected on TCDs can be used for early diagnosis of IE, assessing efficacy of antibiotic therapy, and stratification of stroke risk in IE. This can aid further research into testing preventative interventions for reducing stroke burden in IE such as earlier valvular surgery or vacuum-assisted vegetation extraction.

Epithelial-Myoepithelial Carcinoma of the Lacrimal Sac and Literature Review of the Lacrimal System.

BACKGROUND: Epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas make up less than 0.1% of head and neck malignancies and are regarded as rare, low-grade malignant neoplasms of the salivary gland. They are thought to arise from intercalated ducts with histopathology showing a classic biphasic morphology of an outer layer of myoepithelial cells and inner layer of epithelial cells. These tumors most commonly occur in the parotid gland; however, rare cases have also been described in the nasal cavity, nasopharynx, subglottis, base of tongue, and the lacrimal gland. OBJECTIVE: To describe the clinical presentation, surgical management, and histopathology of the first reported case of lacrimal sac epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma. To conduct a literature review of this malignancy, which is present in the lacrimal system. METHODS: Case report (n = 1) and literature review. RESULTS: We report a case of a 72-year-old man presenting with epiphora and a lacrimal sac mass with intranasal extension on imaging and nasal endoscopy. A combined endoscopic endonasal and open approach provided successful definitive treatment for final pathologic diagnosis of epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma of the lacrimal sac, with orbital reconstruction and lacrimal stenting providing good cosmetic and functional results. CONCLUSIONS: After PubMed database search for any case series or reports of lacrimal system epithelial-myoepithelial carcinomas, we believe this is the first documented case originating from the lacrimal sac. Although the histopathology of this tumor is distinct, unusual location and clinical presentation may pose significant diagnostic difficulties.