A prospective study on single-port versus multiport patient-reported surgical outcomes.

Introduction: We sought to determine potential patient reported advantages of the da Vinci single-port (SP) robotic system for urological procedures compared with the previous model, the da Vinci multiport (MP) system. The SP model utilizes a single 30 to 40 mm incision rather than multiple 5 to 22 mm incisions. This project aims to prospectively investigate the impact of the novel SP system on patient reported cosmetic and psychometric surgical outcomes. Methods: We conducted a prospective study of patients who underwent uro-oncologic surgery by three urologists at the University of Illinois Chicago from April to November 2021. Study participants completed a Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire 20 and 90 days post-procedure. The Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire is a reliable measure of surgical scars that includes five subscales: Appearance, Symptoms, Consciousness, Satisfaction with Appearance, and Satisfaction with Symptoms. Higher scores represented worse reported outcomes. Results: On Postoperative Day 20, there were 77 responses (53 SP and 24 MP). Patients receiving SP procedures reported more favourable outcomes in terms of appearance, symptoms, consciousness, and pain medication. On Day 90, there were 37 responses (24 SP and 13 MP). Patients receiving SP procedures reported more favourable outcomes in terms of appearance. No significant differences were seen on Day 90 in terms of pain, medication, symptoms, consciousness, or satisfaction. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the superiority of the SP in patient reported cosmetic and pain outcomes on short- and long-term follow-up after uro-oncological surgical procedures. Symptomatic and cosmetic advantages are present at the 20 day follow-up, with better scar appearance being significant 90 days after surgery.

Systemic Treatment for Brain Metastasis and Leptomeningeal Disease in Breast Cancer Patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Breast cancer with brain metastasis (BCBM) and leptomeningeal disease (LMD) are important clinical problems. Traditionally, patients with metastases to the brain and meninges were excluded from clinical trials; hence, robust, evidence-based treatment recommendations are lacking. In this review, we outline the systemic treatment options and ongoing clinical trials. RECENT FINDINGS: Several recent studies have added to the systemic treatment options available. Antibody-drug conjugates have changed the therapeutic landscape. Combination treatment modalities that target multiple mechanisms including disruption of the blood brain barrier are increasingly being studied. Breast cancer with brain metastases and LMD is a heterogenous disease. While the prognosis remains grim, with more systemic treatment options, patients with BCBM are now living longer. Many ongoing clinical trials hold promise to further improve outcomes.

Current State of Private Practice and Academic Interventional Radiology: Differences in Practice Structure, Case Mix, and Productivity.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether private practice interventional radiology (IR) groups self-report higher overall productivity given differing case mix and more diagnostic radiology interpretation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 60-question survey was distributed to 3,159 self-identified US IR physicians via the Society of Interventional Radiologists member search engine, with 357 responses (11.3% response rate). Of these responses, there were 258 unique practices from 34 US states. RESULTS: Out of 84 IR group responses, private practice IR (PPIR) physicians reported a minimal trend for higher annual work relative value units (wRVUs) per clinical full-time equivalent compared with academic IR physicians (8,000 versus 7,140, P = .202), but this did not reach statistical significance. PPIR groups reported fewer median weekly hours (50 versus 52), more frequent call (every 6 versus every 5 days), and significantly higher median tenured compensation ($573,000 versus $451,000, P = .000). Out of 179 responses, academic practices reported significantly higher case percentages of interventional oncology and complex hepatobiliary intervention (P <.001), and private practices reported significantly higher percentages of musculoskeletal intervention (P < .001) with a nonsignificant trend for stroke or neurologic intervention (P = .010). Private practices reported more wRVUs from the interpretation of diagnostic imaging, at 26% of total wRVU production compared with 7% of total wRVU production for academic practices (P < .001; n = 131). CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported data from private and academic IR groups suggest minimally higher wRVUs per clinical full-time equivalent among PPIRs with lower weekly work hours, more frequent call, differing case mix, and significantly higher tenured compensation among PPIR groups.

Increased Utilization of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy is Associated with Decreased Disparities and Improved Survival for Early-Stage NSCLC.

INTRODUCTION: We sought to determine if increased use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) was associated with decreased disparities in the receipt of definitive treatment for early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). METHODS: The National Cancer Database (NCDB) was utilized to determine the proportion of patients with NSCLC receiving surgery, SBRT, or no definitive treatment for clinical cT1-2aN0M0 NSCLC from 2004-2017. Univariable and multivariable logistic regressions were used. Age-adjusted mortality rates were calculated using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database. RESULTS: From 2004 to 2017, the proportion of early-stage NSCLC undergoing no definitive treatment declined from 22% to 10.5% (P<.001), while the proportion receiving SBRT increased from 1% (0.9%-1.3%) to 22% (21.4%-22.3%; P<.001). Among Whites, the proportion undergoing no definitive treatment decreased from 21% to 10% (P<.001), as compared to Blacks, which had a higher decrease, of 32% to 15% (P<.001). The proportion of Blacks receiving SBRT increased from 1% (0.3%-1.7%) to 22% (20.8%-23.5%) (P<.001). Between 2011 and 2017 likelihood of Blacksreceiving curative therapy increased compared to Whites [OR: 0.55 (0.48-0.64) to 0.70 (0.62-0.79; P<.001]. Furthermore, the age-adjusted mortality rate of early-stage NSCLC decreased from 4.3 (4.0-4.5) in 2004 to 0.8 (0.7-0.9) in 2017 (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Increased utilization of SBRT significantly increased the proportion of patients receiving curative therapy for early-stage NSCLC and was associated with an improvement in mortality.  Furthermore, the use of SBRT reduced previously seen disparities in receipt of treatment between Whites and Blacks. SBRT was also associated with decreased mortality from early-stage NSCLC.

Single-port Versus Multi-port Robotic-assisted Procedures From the Patient's Perspective: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

INTRODUCTION: The da Vinci SP® single-port system, differently from prior platforms, utilizes a single 2.5 cm incision to accommodate 1 flexible camera and 3 articulated robotic arms. Potential advantages include shorter hospitalization, improved cosmesis, and reduced postoperative pain. This project investigates the impact of the novel single-port system on cosmetic and psychometric patient assessment. METHODS: The Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire (a validated patient-reported outcomes measure for surgical scar) has been administered retrospectively to patients who underwent either an SP or Xi® urological procedure at a single center. Four domains were assessed: Appearance, Consciousness, Satisfaction With Appearance, and Satisfaction With Symptoms. Higher scores represent worse reported outcomes. RESULTS: Compared to 78 Xi procedure recipients (mean 15.28), 104 SP procedure recipients (mean 13.84) reported significantly better cosmetic scar appearance U(NSP=104, NMP=78) = 3,739 (P = .007) where U is the difference between the 2 rank totals, and NSP and NMP represent the number of single-port and multi-port procedure recipient respondents, respectively. Similarly, the SP cohort (mean 8.80) compared to the Xi group (mean 9.87) demonstrated significantly better consciousness of their surgical scar, U(NSP=104, NMP=78) = 3,329 (P = .045), and higher satisfaction with the cosmetic appearance of their surgical scar, U(NSP=103, NMP=78) = 3,232 (P = .022), with the SP group (mean 11.35) attaining better scores than the Xi group (mean 12.54). No significant difference was found for "Satisfaction With Symptoms," U(NSP=103, NMP=78) = 3,969 (P = .88), despite the SP group (mean 6.58) attaining lower scores than the Xi group (mean 6.74). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates patients' favorable perception of SP versus XI surgery in terms of aesthetic outcomes. An ongoing study is investigating the relationship between cosmetic satisfaction and length of stay, postoperative pain, and narcotic use.

Increased Disparities in Patients Diagnosed with Metastatic Lung Cancer Following Lung CT Screening in the United States.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine if implementation of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer in the United States had led to changes in patients being diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer over time. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) database was utilized to determine the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed as stage I to III and stage IV from 2009-2018. Changes in lung cancer stage distribution were compared in the overall population and by race. RESULTS: From 2009 to 2018, the proportion of stage I to III lung cancers increased from 52% (51.3%-53.2%) in 2009 to 56% (54.0%-55.8%) in 2018 (P < .001). Correspondingly, the proportion of lung cancers diagnosed in stage IV decreased from 48% (46.8%-48.7%) in 2009 to 45% (44.2%-46.0%) (P < .001) in 2018. For white patients, the proportion increased from 53% (51.6%-53.7%) to 56% (55.1%-57.1%) (P < .001). However, for black patients, no trend was present, with the proportion being 51% (47.9%-53.4%) in 2009 and 52% (49.0%-54.2%) in 2018 (P = .303). CONCLUSION: Since the implementation of LDCT screening, the proportion of early-stage lung cancers increased in the general population. These changes in stage distribution were not present in black patients.

In vivo RNA editing of point mutations via RNA-guided adenosine deaminases.

We present in vivo sequence-specific RNA base editing via adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes with associated ADAR guide RNAs (adRNAs). To achieve this, we systematically engineered adRNAs to harness ADARs, and comprehensively evaluated the specificity and activity of the toolsets in vitro and in vivo via two mouse models of human disease. We anticipate that this platform will enable tunable and reversible engineering of cellular RNAs for diverse applications.