Small Hemothoraces Not Drained on Admission: Initial Volume Predicts Need for Intervention.

BACKGROUND: Unlike large hemothoraces (HTX), small HTX after blunt trauma may be observed without drainage. We aimed to study if there were risk factors that would predict the need for intervention in initially observed small HTX. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients with blunt traumatic HTX from 2016 to 2022 was performed. Patients with small HTX (pleural fluid volume <400 mL on admission chest computerized tomography [CT]) were included. Patients were considered as being "initially observed" if there was no intervention for the HTX within 48 hours after admission. Primary outcome was any HTX-related intervention (open, thoracoscopic or percutaneous procedures) occurring after 48 hours and up to 6 months after injury. Univariable and multivariable statistical analyses were employed. A P-value of <.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: Of 335 patients with HTX, 188 (59.6%) met inclusion criteria. Median (interquartile range) HTX volume was 90 (36-134) ml. One hundred and twenty-seven (68%) were initially observed. Of these, 31 (24%) had the primary outcome. These patients had a larger HTX volume (median, 129 vs 68 mL, P = .0001), and number of rib fractures (median, 7 vs 4, P = .0002) compared to those without the primary outcome. Chest-related readmission occurred in 8 (6%) with a median of 20 days from injury. Of these, 7 required an HTX-related intervention. Logistic regression analysis found that both the number of rib fractures and HTX volume independently predicted the primary outcome. CONCLUSION: For small HTX initially observed, number of rib fractures and initial volume predicted delayed HTX-related intervention.

Preoperative Bladder Bowel Dysfunction Is the Most Important Predictive Factor for Postoperative Urinary Retention After Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Ureteral Reimplantation via An Extravesical Approach: A Multi-Center Study.

Introduction: Postoperative acute urinary retention (pAUR) is a known occurrence after robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation via an extravesical approach (RALUR-EV). We hypothesized that the risk factor of pAUR after RALUR-EV might be similar to that of pAUR after open reimplantation. We aimed at performing a retrospective multi-institutional study to evaluate the risk factors for pAUR after RALUR-EV. Materials and Methods: Perioperative data collected from two tertiary referral hospitals included demographics and perioperative variables such as bladder bowel dysfunction (BBD) status, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) grade, and laterality. pAUR was defined as the need for urethral catheter replacement after removal of the initial postoperative catheter. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify risk factors for pAUR. Results: A total of 117 patients with 174 renal units from the 2 hospitals were enrolled in this study. The median age at the time of surgery was 5 (0.3-19) years. Bilateral RALUR-EV was performed in 57 (48.7%) cases. pAUR rate was 3.4% in all patients and 7.0% in 57 patients with bilateral VUR. All four cases of pAUR occurred after bilateral surgery. Univariate analysis showed age (p = 0.037), weight (p = 0.039), height (p = 0.040), and bilaterality (p = 0.037) as risk factors of pAUR. In a multivariate analysis, BBD was the only significant risk factor of pAUR (p = 0.037). Conclusion: Urinary retention after RALUR-EV occurred less frequently when compared with the previously reported open surgery series. pAUR was seen only in bilateral cases in our series. Preoperative history of BBD, but not male gender or length of surgical time, was the only risk factor of pAUR after RALUR-EV.

Does de novo hydronephrosis after pediatric robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral re-implantation behave similarly to open re-implantation?

BACKGROUND: While open ureteral re-implantation surgery is the gold standard for surgical correction of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral re-implantation via an extravesical approach (RALUR-EV) has become a minimally invasive alternative. Previous studies have shown that transient hydronephrosis after open re-implantation can occur in up to 28% of patients. However, previous studies have also shown that de novo hydronephrosis after open re-implantation is not predictive of final differential renal function. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective review was performed to characterize the natural history of postoperative hydronephrosis after RALUR-EV for primary VUR in pediatric patients. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective chart review of a single-surgeon series was performed for pediatric patients who underwent RALUR-EV for primary VUR. The severity of de novo hydronephrosis was assessed using the Society for Fetal Urology (SFU) grading system via renal ultrasound at the 1-month postoperative follow-up. Renal ultrasound was performed at least every six months. Radiographic success was defined as complete resolution of VUR on the voiding cystourethrogram at the 4-month mark. Patient demographics, surgery duration, length of hospital stay, pre-operative and postoperative VUR grades, and follow-up time periods were collected. Patients with other associated urinary pathology and patients lost to follow-up were excluded from the study. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients (121 kidney units) with primary VUR who underwent RALUR-EV met the inclusion criteria. SFU grade 1-3 hydronephrosis was noted in 30.3% (36/119) of kidney units at the 1-month mark, but 83.9% (26/31) cases with hydronephrosis completely resolved in a median time of 7.9 months (range: 3.4-21.0 months), and all four cases with unresolved hydronephrosis were downgraded to SFU grade 1 without the need for intervention. DISCUSSION: A radiographic success rate of 96% was demonstrated in this cohort, which is comparable with that of historical open re-implantation series. A similar rate of de novo hydronephrosis was also noted in this cohort when compared with that of previous open re-implantation series, but de novo hydronephrosis after RALUR-EV had a similar or more rapid resolution rate than that previously reported after open intravesical and extravesical re-implantation series. CONCLUSION: De novo hydronephrosis after RALUR-EV behaves similarly to de novo hydronephrosis after open ureteral re-implantation, where de novo hydronephrosis is present in up to 30% of pediatric patients who underwent RALUR-EV. The hydronephrosis self-resolves without the need for intervention in the overwhelming majority of cases and resolves at a median time of 7.9 months after surgery.

Primary cutaneous CD4+ small- to medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder in a pediatric patient successfully treated with low-dose radiation.

Primary cutaneous CD4+ small- to medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (PCSM-LPD) is a rare and low-grade form of cutaneous T-cell proliferation with the average age of diagnosis of 54 years. Because of its rarity, the etiology or exact clinicopathology of PCSM-LPD remains unclear, with < 10 pediatric cases reported. A 13-year-old boy presented to our clinic with a raised tumor with PCSM-LPD histology and was successfully treated with ultra-low-dose radiation therapy. While no standard of care has been established for pediatric PCSM-LPD, this report represents an example of achieving remission in a pediatric tumor with minimal potential for therapy-related long-term toxicity.

Generalized morphea/eosinophilic fasciitis overlap after epoxy exposure.

Generalized morphea is associated with epoxy resin vapors and is characterized by the development of lesions shortly after exposure. Morphea presenting along with eosinophilic fasciitis (EF), or morphea/EF overlap, is rare and an indicator of poor prognosis and resistance to treatment. Here we present a case of generalized morphea/EF overlap linked to epoxy exposure. Our patient received multiple therapies-ultraviolet A1 phototherapy, prednisone, methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide, cyclosporine, and rituximab-none of which led to a significant response. The refractory nature of this disease warrants vigilance in its association with epoxy exposure.

Augmented reality for the surgeon: Systematic review.

INTRODUCTION: Since the introduction of wearable head-up displays, there has been much interest in the surgical community adapting this technology into routine surgical practice. METHODS: We used the keywords augmented reality OR wearable device OR head-up display AND surgery using PubMed, EBSCO, IEEE and SCOPUS databases. After exclusions, 74 published articles that evaluated the utility of wearable head-up displays in surgical settings were included in our review. RESULTS: Across all studies, the most common use of head-up displays was in cases of live streaming from surgical microscopes, navigation, monitoring of vital signs, and display of preoperative images. The most commonly used head-up display was Google Glass. Head-up displays enhanced surgeons' operating experience; common disadvantages include limited battery life, display size and discomfort. CONCLUSIONS: Due to ergonomic issues with dual-screen devices, augmented reality devices with the capacity to overlay images onto the surgical field will be key features of next-generation surgical head-up displays.

BAK/BAX-Mediated Apoptosis Is a Myc-Induced Roadblock to Reprogramming.

Despite intensive efforts to optimize the process, reprogramming differentiated cells to induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) remains inefficient. The most common combination of transcription factors employed comprises OCT4, KLF4, SOX2, and MYC (OKSM). If MYC is omitted (OKS), reprogramming efficiency is reduced further. Cells must overcome several obstacles to reach the pluripotent state, one of which is apoptosis. To directly determine how extensively apoptosis limits reprogramming, we exploited mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) lacking the two essential mediators of apoptosis, BAK and BAX. Our results show that reprogramming is enhanced in MEFs deficient in BAK and BAX, but only when MYC is part of the reprogramming cocktail. Thus, the propensity for Myc overexpression to elicit apoptosis creates a significant roadblock to reprogramming under OKSM conditions. Our results suggest that blocking apoptosis during reprogramming may enhance the derivation of iPSCs for research and therapeutic purposes.

The development of primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder at the site of a melanoma excision scar.

Primary cutaneous CD4+ small/medium-sized pleomorphic T-cell lymphoproliferative disorder (PCSM-LPD) is a rare and low-grade form of cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL), representing 2% of all primary cutaneous lymphomas. Because of its rarity, the etiology or exact clinicopathology of PCSM-LPD remains unclear. We present the first case of PCSM-LPD, to our knowledge, arising at a past melanoma excision site. A 72-year-old woman with a past medical history significant for melanoma-in-situ excised 36 years ago presented to our clinic for evaluation of a single, erythematous plaque of the posterior arm within a melanoma excision scar. A biopsy was performed, revealing PCSM-LPD. Reports of the development of other T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders after prior skin trauma such as chemical burns, thermal injury, and mechanical trauma exist in the literature. Physicians should be aware of the possibility of the appearance of T-cell lymphoproliferative disorders at the site of scars or prior trauma with a time lag of months to years.

Mycosis fungoides occurring at the site of previous herpes zoster eruption.

Numerous clinicopathological variants of mycosis fungoides have been described in the literature. Dermatomal or zosteriform mycosis fungoides is one reported variant but a clear aetiology has never been documented. We report a case of mycosis fungoides proved by biopsy and immunohistochemistry that developed in a 55-year-old man at the site of previous herpes zoster eruption. We also present a review of the relevant literature to add to the understanding of rare variants of mycosis fungoides and aid in the clinical recognition of zosteriform mycosis fungoides.

Rare cause of delirium and hypoxemia after coronary bypass surgery: transdermal lidocaine patch-associated methemoglobinemia.

We present a case of a patient administered parasternal transdermal lidocaine patch therapy as part of a multimodal analgesic regime designed to diminish opioid-associated delirium after coronary bypass surgery. The patient presented with delirium and severe methemoglobinemia (41%) that responded to discontinuation of lidocaine therapy, oxygen administration, and methylene blue administration. The clinical contributors and medicolegal implications of this degree of lidocaine-associated methemoglobin-mediated delirium are presented in the hope of avoiding similar complications in the postoperative setting after coronary bypass surgery.

Novel Mutations Involving NF-κB and B-Cell Signaling Pathways in Primary Cutaneous Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Leg-Type and Comparison with Sézary Syndrome.

Multiple genomic mutations, especially those involving the NF-κB pathway, have been characterized in primary cutaneous large B-cell lymphoma, leg type. However, its genomic profiling remains limited given its rarity. In a recent study, Mareschal et al. performed next-generation sequencing and whole-exome sequencing, identifying new driver genes while also confirming the role of myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 in the molecular pathogenesis of the disease.

Residents' self-report on why they order perceived unnecessary inpatient laboratory tests.

Resident physicians routinely order unnecessary inpatient laboratory tests. As hospitalists face growing pressures to reduce low-value services, understanding the factors that drive residents' laboratory ordering can help steer resident training in high-value care. We conducted a qualitative analysis of internal medicine (IM) and general surgery (GS) residents at a large academic medical center to describe the frequency of perceived unnecessary ordering of inpatient laboratory tests, factors contributing to that behavior, and potential interventions to change it. The sample comprised 57.0% of IM and 54.4% of GS residents. Among respondents, perceived unnecessary inpatient laboratory test ordering was self-reported by 88.2% of IM and 67.7% of GS residents, occurring on a daily basis by 43.5% and 32.3% of responding IM and GS residents, respectively. Across both specialties, residents attributed their behaviors to the health system culture, lack of transparency of the costs associated with health care services, and lack of faculty role models that celebrate restraint. Journal of Hospital Medicine 2015;11:869-872. © 2015 Society of Hospital Medicine.

Tumor suppression via paclitaxel-loaded drug carriers that target inflammation marker upregulated in tumor vasculature and macrophages.

Clinically approved chemotherapeutic nanoparticles may provide advantages over free drugs by achieving slower clearance and preferential accumulation in tumors. However, the lack of leaky vasculatures can create barriers to the permeation of ~100 nm-sized nanoparticles in solid tumors. We hypothesized that nanoparticles designed to target both tumor and tumor stroma would penetrate deeper into the tumors. To construct such comprehensive drug carriers, we utilized cross-linked amphiphilic polymer nanoparticles and functionalized them to target ICAM-1, a biomarker prevalent in various tumors and inflamed tumor stroma. The targeting moiety was derived from the modular domain present in α(L) integrin, which was engineered for high affinity and cross-reactivity with human and murine ICAM-1. ICAM-1-selective delivery of paclitaxel produced potent tumor suppression of not only ICAM-1-positive cervical cancer cells but also ICAM-1-negative tumors, presumably by causing cytotoxicity in tumor-associated endothelium (CD31(+)) and macrophages (CD68(+)) over-expressing ICAM-1. Contrary to the strategies of targeting only the tumor or specific tumor stromal constituents, we present a strategy in delivering therapeutics to the major cellular components of solid tumors. Drug carriers against inflammation-biomarkers may be effective against many different types of tumors, while being less susceptible to the highly mutable nature of tumor markers.

Leukemia inhibitory factor promotes olfactory sensory neuronal survival via phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway activation and Bcl-2.

Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), a neuropoietic cytokine, has been implicated in the control of neuronal development. We previously reported that LIF plays a critical role in regulating the terminal differentiation of olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). Here, we demonstrate that LIF plays a complementary role in supporting the survival of immature OSNs. Mature OSNs express LIF, which may be elaborated in a paracrine manner to influence adjacent neurons. LIF null mice display more apoptotic immature neurons than do their wild-type littermates. LIF treatment of dissociated OSNs in vitro significantly reduces the apoptosis of immature OSNs. Double immunocytochemical analysis indicates that the survival of immature OSNs is dependent on the presence of LIF. LIF activates the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways and induces the expression of the antiapoptotic molecule Bcl-2 in OSNs, whereas inhibition of the PI3K pathway blocks LIF-dependent OSN survival and Bcl-2 induction. Thus, LIF plays a central role in maintaining the size and integrity of the population of immature neurons within the olfactory epithelium; this population is critical to the rapid recovery of olfactory function after injury. LIF may play a similar role elsewhere in the CNS and thus be important for manipulation of stem cell populations for therapeutic interventions.

Leukemia inhibitory factor is a proliferative factor for olfactory sensory neurons.

Neuropoietic cytokines are known to play crucial roles in neuronal development. Among them, leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has been implicated in various processes of neuronal development, such as neuronal differentiation, survival and neurogenesis. Moreover, LIF is highly expressed in regions of the central nervous system where adult neurogenesis occurs. LIF was tested for its efficacy in promoting postnatal neurogenesis using LIF-null mice and dissociated cultures of early postnatal rat olfactory sensory neurons. Our results indicate that LIF promoted proliferation of olfactory sensory neuron precursors both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, LIF did not affect proliferation of non-neuronal cells. LIF may therefore be useful when developing stem cell therapy to replace damaged olfactory sensory neurons as well as a therapeutic agent to treat some anosmic symptoms.

Leukemia inhibitory factor inhibits neuronal terminal differentiation through STAT3 activation.

The discovery of stem cells in the adult central nervous system raises questions concerning the neurotrophic factors that regulate postnatal neuronal development. Olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) are a useful model, because they are capable of robust neurogenesis throughout adulthood. We have investigated the role of leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in postnatal neuronal development by using ORNs as a model. LIF is a multifunctional cytokine implicated in various aspects of neuronal development, including phenotype determination, survival, and in response to nerve injury. LIF-deficient mice display significant increases, both in the absolute amount and in the number of cells expressing olfactory marker protein, a marker of mature ORNs. The maturation of ORNs was significantly inhibited by LIF in vitro. LIF activated the STAT3 pathway in ORNs, and transfection of ORNs with a dominant negative form of STAT3 abolished the effect of LIF. These findings demonstrate that LIF negatively regulates ORN maturation via the STAT3 pathway. Thus, LIF plays a critical role in controlling the transition of ORNs to maturity. Consequently, a population of ORNs is maintained in an immature state to facilitate the rapid repopulation of the olfactory epithelium with mature neurons during normal cell turnover or after injury.