The activation impact of lactobacillus-derived extracellular vesicles on lipopolysaccharide-induced microglial cell.

Perioperative neurocognitive dysfunction (PND) emerges as a common postoperative complication among elderly patients. Currently, the mechanism of PND remains unclear, but there exists a tendency to believe that inflammation plays a significant role in PND. Alterations in the abundance of intestinal microbiota can increase the permeability of the intestinal mucosal barrier and incite extraintestinal inflammatory responses. Metabolites from these microbiota can be absorbed by the intestinal mucosa into the bloodstream, exerting influence upon the central nervous system (CNS). Lactobacillus (Lac), serving as an intestinal probiotic bacterium, possesses the capacity to modulate emotional behavior and cognitive functions. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are recognized as novel therapeutic carriers for targeted delivery to regulate physiology and pathogenesis. While the mechanism governing the primary function of Lac-EVs in the CNS remains uncertain. Therefore, we established an in vitro neuroinflammation model to induce PND and then treated the mice with Lac-EVs to observe the effect of these EVs on neuroinflammation, particularly on microglial (MG) polarization. Our research unveils that Lac-EVs reduced inflammation induced by LPS in microglia and the activation of related proteins, including the mRNA expression of M1 labeled protein (iNOS). Moreover, the mRNA expression of M2-labeled protein (Arg1) increased. In addition, flow cytometry revealed that the ratio of M1/M2 microglia also changed significantly. Therefore, Lac-EVs promoted the differentiation of M2 microglia by inducing the preferential expression of specific markers related to M2 macrophages and inflammation. In terms of inflammatory cytokine expression, Lac-EVs decreased the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß and IL-6) and increased IL-10 production after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation. Therefore, Lac-EVs induce the activation of M2 microglial cells without inducing cellular harm in vitro, and they demonstrate anti-inflammatory effects against lipopolysaccharide-induced neuroinflammation. This finding suggested that it is an effective anti-inflammatory strategy for alleviating inflammation-driven PNDs.

Sodium Butyrate Ameliorates Postoperative Delirium by Regulating Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis to Inhibit Astrocyte Activation in Aged Mice.

Postoperative delirium (POD) is a common complication in elderly surgical patients, with limited targeted interventions due to incomplete understanding of its pathophysiological mechanisms. Central nervous system (CNS) inflammation, involving glial cell activation, particularly astrocytes, is considered crucial in POD development. Butyrate, a four-carbon fatty acid, has shown protective effects in CNS diseases, but its potential in mitigating POD remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of sodium butyrate on POD in aged mice. Behavioral tests, including open field, Y maze, and food burying tests, demonstrated that sodium butyrate preconditioning ameliorated laparotomy-induced delirium in aged mice. Pre-treatment with sodium butyrate inhibited astrocyte activation in the hippocampus, reduced interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression levels, and protected hippocampal neurons. Furthermore, the study revealed a connection between gut microbiota regulation and central neuroprotective effects mediated by astrocyte activation inhibition. Sodium butyrate improved the intestinal morphological barrier by rebalancing gut microbiota, inhibiting Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, reducing Allobaculum and Bacteroides abundance, and increasing Oscillospira abundance. This regulation decreased gut permeability, limiting the entry of toxic substances into the bloodstream, thereby reducing inflammation spread and astrocyte overactivation, leading to central anti-inflammatory effects. In conclusion, sodium butyrate may ameliorate POD by inhibiting astrocyte-mediated neuroinflammation through gut microbiota rebalancing.

Care Fragmentation, Social Determinants of Health, and Postoperative Mortality in Older Veterans.

INTRODUCTION: Veterans Affairs Surgical Quality Improvement Program (VASQIP) benchmarking algorithms helped the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) reduce postoperative mortality. Despite calls to consider social risk factors, these algorithms do not adjust for social determinants of health (SDoH) or account for services fragmented between the VHA and the private sector. This investigation examines how the addition of SDoH change model performance and quantifies associations between SDoH and 30-d postoperative mortality. METHODS: VASQIP (2013-2019) cohort study in patients ≥65 y old with 2-30-d inpatient stays. VASQIP was linked to other VHA and Medicare/Medicaid data. 30-d postoperative mortality was examined using multivariable logistic regression models, adjusting first for clinical variables, then adding SDoH. RESULTS: In adjusted analyses of 93,644 inpatient cases (97.7% male, 79.7% non-Hispanic White), higher proportions of non-veterans affairs care (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.02, 95% CI = 1.01-1.04) and living in highly deprived areas (aOR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.02-1.29) were associated with increased postoperative mortality. Black race (aOR = 0.77, CI = 0.68-0.88) and rurality (aOR = 0.87, CI = 0.79-0.96) were associated with lower postoperative mortality. Adding SDoH to models with only clinical variables did not improve discrimination (c = 0.836 versus c = 0.835). CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative mortality is worse among Veterans receiving more health care outside the VA and living in highly deprived neighborhoods. However, adjusting for SDoH is unlikely to improve existing mortality-benchmarking models. Reduction efforts for postoperative mortality could focus on alleviating care fragmentation and designing care pathways that consider area deprivation. The adjusted survival advantage for rural and Black Veterans may be of interest to private sector hospitals as they attempt to alleviate enduring health-care disparities.

Association of preoperative neutrophil-lymphocyte ratios with the emergence delirium in pediatric patients after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy: an observational prospective study.

PURPOSE: The study aimed to investigate potential risk factors for emergence delirium (ED) in pediatric patients after tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy (T&A). METHODS: This prospective, single-center observational study enrolled children aged 3-7 years who underwent T&A under general anesthesia. ED was assessed according to DSM-IV or V criteria. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to evaluate the predicative and cut-off values of risk factors, including age, preoperative anxiety level, postoperative pain and neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) for ED. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate risk factors for ED. RESULTS: 94 pediatric patients who underwent T&A were enrolled and 19 developed ED (an incidence of 25.3%). Receiver operating characteristic analysis indicated that preoperative NLR was a significant predictor of ED with a cut-off value of 0.8719 and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.671 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.546-0.796, P = 0.022). Preoperative NLR (< 0.8719) and postoperative pain were independent risk factors associated with ED (odds ratio: 0.168, 95% CI 0.033-0.858, P = 0.032; odds ratio: 7.298, 95% CI 1.563-34.083, P = 0.011) according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative NLR level and postoperative pain were independent risk factors for ED in pediatric patients undergoing T&A.

Robotic Level IV Inferior Vena Cava Thrombectomy Using an Intrapericardial Control Technique: Is It Safe Without Cardiopulmonary Bypass?

PURPOSE: We introduce an intrapericardial control technique using a robotic approach in the surgical treatment of renal tumor with level IV inferior vena cava thrombus to decrease the severe complications associated with cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eight patients with level IV inferior vena cava thrombi not extending into the atrium underwent transabdominal-transdiaphragmatic robot-assisted inferior vena cava thrombectomy obviating cardiopulmonary bypass/deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (cardiopulmonary bypass-free group) by an expert team comprising urological, hepatobiliary, and cardiovascular surgeons. The central diaphragm tendon and pericardium were transabdominally dissected until the intrapericardial inferior vena cava were exposed and looped proximal to the cranial end of the thrombi under intraoperative ultrasound guidance. As controls, 14 patients who underwent robot-assisted inferior vena cava thrombectomy with cardiopulmonary bypass (cardiopulmonary bypass group) and 25 patients who underwent open thrombectomy with cardiopulmonary bypass/deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (cardiopulmonary bypass/deep hypothermic circulatory arrest group) were included. Clinicopathological, operative, and survival outcomes were retrospectively analyzed. RESULTS: Eight robot-assisted inferior vena cava thrombectomies were successfully performed without cardiopulmonary bypass, with 1 open conversion. The median operation time and first porta hepatis occlusion time were shorter, and estimated blood loss was lower in the cardiopulmonary bypass-free group as compared to the cardiopulmonary bypass group (540 vs 586.5 minutes, 16.5 vs 38.5. minutes, and 2,050 vs 3,500 mL, respectively). Severe complications (level IV-V) were also lower in the cardiopulmonary bypass-free group than in cardiopulmonary bypass and cardiopulmonary bypass/deep hypothermic circulatory arrest groups (25% vs 50% vs 40%). Oncologic outcomes were comparable among the 3 groups in short-term follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Pure transabdominal-transdiaphragmatic robot-assisted inferior vena cava thrombectomy without cardiopulmonary bypass/deep hypothermic circulatory arrest represents as an alternative minimally invasive approach for selected level IV inferior vena cava thrombi.

The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the quality of life of Chinese football referees: the chain mediating role of occupational stress and job burnout.

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 lockdown measures have had a great negative impact on the development of sports competition in China, as well as on the quality of life of football referees. This study aims to explore the impact of lockdown measures implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on the quality of life of football referees in China and its mechanism of action. METHODS: The Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), the Effort-Reward Imbalance Scale (ERI), the Maslach Burnout Inventory General Survey (MBI-GS), and the World Health Organization Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF). The scale was used from August to September 2022. Using an online questionnaire, 350 questionnaires were sent out and 338 were returned, for a return rate of 96.57%. Invalid questionnaires were excluded, and 307 football referees with referee grades in 29 provinces registered with the CFA were surveyed. SPSS 24.0 and Mplus 8.0 were used for data analysis and structural equation model testing in this study. RESULTS: The results showed that the COVID-19 lockdown had no significant impact on the quality of life of Chinese football referees. However, the COVID-19 lockdown can affect the quality of life of Chinese football referees through occupational stress or job burnout. Occupational stress and job burnout also play a chain intermediary role between the COVID-19 lockdown and the quality of life of Chinese football referees. In addition, this study further explores the quality of life by dividing it into four dimensions (physical, social, psychological, and environmental). The results show that all four dimensions satisfy the chain mediation model. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, the quality of life of Chinese football referees can be improved by reducing their occupational stress and job burnout during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Evaluation of Risk-Adjusted Home Time After Acute Myocardial Infarction as a Novel Hospital-Level Performance Metric for Medicare Beneficiaries.

BACKGROUND: The utility of 30-day risk-standardized readmission rate (RSRR) as a hospital performance metric has been a matter of debate. Home time is a patient-centered outcome measure that accounts for rehospitalization, mortality, and postdischarge care. We aim to characterize risk-adjusted 30-day home time in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) as a hospital-level performance metric and to evaluate associations with 30-day RSRR, 30-day risk-standardized mortality rate (RSMR), and 1-year RSMR. METHODS: The study included 984 612 patients with AMI hospitalization across 2379 hospitals between 2009 and 2015 derived from 100% Medicare claims data. Home time was defined as the number of days alive and spent outside of a hospital, skilled nursing facility, or intermediate-/long-term acute care facility 30 days after discharge. Correlations between hospital-level risk-adjusted 30-day home time and 30-day RSRR, 30-day RSMR, and 1-year RSMR were estimated with the Pearson correlation. Reclassification in hospital performance using 30-day home time versus 30-day RSRR and 30-day RSMR was also evaluated. RESULTS: Median hospital-level risk-adjusted 30-day home time was 24.0 days (range, 15.3-29.0 days). Hospitals with higher home time were more commonly academic centers, had available cardiac surgery and rehabilitation services, and had higher AMI volume and percutaneous coronary intervention use during the AMI hospitalization. Of the mean 30-day home time days lost, 58% were to intermediate-/long-term care or skilled nursing facility stays (4.7 days), 30% to death (2.5 days), and 12% to readmission (1.0 days). Hospital-level risk-adjusted 30-day home time was inversely correlated with 30-day RSMR (r=-0.22, P<0.0001) and 30-day RSRR (r=-0.25, P<0.0001). Patients admitted to hospitals with higher risk-adjusted 30-day home time had lower 30-day readmission (quartile 1 versus 4, 21% versus 17%), 30-day mortality rate (5% versus 3%), and 1-year mortality rate (18% versus 12%). Furthermore, 30-day home time reclassified hospital performance status in ≈30% of hospitals versus 30-day RSRR and 30-day RSMR. CONCLUSIONS: Thirty-day home time for patients with AMI can be assessed as a hospital-level performance metric with the use of Medicare claims data. It varies across hospitals, is associated with postdischarge readmission and mortality outcomes, and meaningfully reclassifies hospital performance compared with the 30-day RSRR and 30-day RSMR metrics.

Risk-Standardized Home Time as a Novel Hospital Performance Metric for Pneumonia Hospitalization Among Medicare Beneficiaries: a Retrospective Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) use hospital readmissions as a performance metric to incentivize hospital care for acute conditions including pneumonia. However, there are limitations to using readmission alone as a hospital performance metric. OBJECTIVE: To characterize 30-day risk-standardized home time (RSHT), a novel patient-centered post-discharge performance metric for acute pneumonia hospitalizations in Medicare patients, and compare hospital rankings based on this metric with mortality and readmissions. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of Medicare fee-for-service beneficiaries admitted between January 01, 2015 and November 30, 2017. INTERVENTIONS: None. MAIN MEASURES: Risk-standardized hospital-level home time within 30 days of discharge was evaluated as a novel performance metric. Multilevel regression models were used to calculate hospital-level estimates and rank hospitals based on RSHT, readmission rate (RSRR), and mortality rate (RSMR). KEY RESULTS: A total of 1.7 million pneumonia admissions admitted to one of the 3116 hospitals were eligible for inclusion. The median 30-day RSHT was 20.5 days (interquartile range: 18.9-21.9 days; range: 5-29 days). Hospital-level characteristics such as case volume, bed size, for-profit ownership, rural location of the hospital, teaching status, and participation in the bundled payment program were significantly associated with home time. We found a modest, inverse correlation of RSHT with RSRR (rho: -0.233, p< 0.0001) and RSMR (rho: -0.223, p< 0.0001) for pneumonia. About 1/3rd of hospitals were reclassified as high performers based on their RSHT metric compared with the rank on their RSRR and RSMR metrics. CONCLUSION: Home time is a novel, patient-centered, hospital-level metric that can be easily calculated using claims data and accounts for mortality, readmission to an acute care facility, and admission to a skilled nursing facility or long-term care facility after discharge. Utilization of this patient-centered metric could have policy implications in assessing hospital performance on delivery of healthcare to pneumonia patients.

Characteristics and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation receiving direct oral anticoagulants in off-label doses.

BACKGROUND: We evaluated adherence to dosing criteria for patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) taking dabigatran or rivaroxaban and the impact of off-label dosing on thromboembolic and bleeding risk. METHODS: We used data for a retrospective cohort from a large U.S. health plan for Medicare beneficiaries age > =65 years with AF who initiated dabigatran or rivaroxaban during 2010-2016. Stroke and major bleeding were quantified in patients who were eligible for low dose but received standard dose, and in patients who were eligible for standard dose but received low dose. RESULTS: We identified 8035 and 19,712 patients who initiated dabigatran or rivaroxaban, respectively. Overall, 1401 (17.4%) and 7820 (39.7%) patients who received dabigatran and rivaroxaban met criteria for low dose, respectively. Of those, 959 (68.5%) and 3904 (49.9%) received standard dose. In contrast, 1013 (15.3%) and 2551 (21.5%) of patients eligible for standard dose dabigatran and rivaroxaban received low dose. Mean follow-up for patients eligible for low and standard dose dabigatran and rivaroxaban were 13.9, 15.1, 10.1, and 12.3 months, respectively. In unadjusted analyses, patients eligible for low or standard dose dabigatran and rivaroxaban but receiving off-label dose, had no differences in the rates of ischemic stroke. Among patients who met criteria for standard dose direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC), use of low dose was associated with significantly higher risk of any major bleeding (Dabigatran: HR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.14-1.8, P = 0.002, Rivaroxaban HR 1.34, 95% CI 1.11-1.6, P = 0.002) and gastrointestinal bleeding (Dabigatran: HR = 1.48; 95% CI 1.08-2, P = 0.016). In patients who met criteria for low dose DOACs, there was lower risk of major bleeding (Dabigatran: HR = 0.59; 95% CI 0.43-0.8, P < 0.001), gastrointestinal (Rivaroxaban: HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.64-0.98, P = 0.03) and intracranial bleeding (Dabigatran: HR = 0.33; 95% CI 0.12-0.9, P = 0.001) with standard dosing. After propensity matching, use of off-label doses was not associated with stroke, major, gastrointestinal or intracranial bleeding for either dabigatran or rivaroxaban. CONCLUSIONS: While a significant number of patients receive higher or lower dose of dabigatran and rivaroxaban than recommended, we found no evidence of significant impact on thromboembolic or hemorrhagic outcomes.

Peptide-Aptamer Coassembly Nanocarrier for Cancer Therapy.

We reported methionine bis-alkylated nonapeptide Wpc as an efficient siRNA vehicle previously. Herein, we report an aptamer could also spontaneously coassemble with Wpc to form uniformed nanoparticles for efficient delivery. This unique peptide-based aptamer nanocarrier showed significantly improved cell penetration and antiproliferation effect with high biocompatibility toward various cancer cell lines.

What Is the Clinical Importance of Incidental Findings on Staging CT Scans in Patients With Sarcoma?

BACKGROUND: Baseline staging CT scans are performed on nearly every patient after the diagnosis of a sarcoma to evaluate for the presence of metastatic disease. These scans often identify abnormalities that may or may not be related to the known malignancy. Despite the high frequency of incidental findings, there is little guidance for clinicians faced with assessing these radiographic abnormalities. The interpretation of incidental findings is important because it may influence decisions regarding surveillance frequency, prognostic estimation, and surgical and medical intervention. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: The purpose of this study was to determine (1) the frequency of abnormal findings and indeterminate nodules on staging CT scans; (2) the natural history of indeterminate nodules identified at the time of sarcoma diagnosis; and (3) the factors associated with indeterminate nodules representing true metastatic disease. METHODS: Between September 2010 and February 2016 we treated 233 patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Of those, 227 (97%) had a staging CT scan of the chest or chest/abdomen/pelvis performed within 2 months of diagnosis. To be eligible for this retrospective study, a patient had to have a minimum of 6 months of radiographic followup after that initial CT scan. A total of 36 (16%) were lost to followup or did not have radiographic surveillance at least 6 months later, and 48 (21%) were excluded for other prespecified reasons, leaving 149 patients for evaluation. We recorded all abnormal findings listed in the official radiology CT report of the lung, bone, liver, and lymph nodes. We assessed progression of indeterminate nodules by reviewing radiology reports, which listed both size and number of findings, and clinical notes outlining the current assessment of disease status and treatment plan. If indeterminate nodules grew in size or number consistent with metastatic disease or were confirmed histologically, they were considered to represent true metastasis. Bivariate methods were used to investigate an association between various clinical factors, which were obtained from chart review, and progression of indeterminate nodules to clear metastatic disease. RESULTS: One hundred thirty-five of 149 patients (91%) had at least one abnormal finding on a staging CT scan. Forty-nine patients (33%) presented with indeterminate lung nodules, 15 (10%) with indeterminate liver lesions, four (3%) with indeterminate bone lesions, and 57 (38%) with enlarged lymph nodes. Fifteen of the 49 patients with indeterminate lung nodules (31%), one of 15 liver nodules, zero of four bone lesions, four of 13 lymph nodes 1 to 2 cm in size, and two of 44 subcentimeter lymph nodes (4.5%) were clearly metastatic on followup. A primary tumor size ≥ 14 cm in greatest dimension was more suggestive of indeterminate nodules representing true metastatic disease compared with smaller primary tumors in both lung (eight of 10 compared with seven of 36 [19%]; odds ratio, 16.6; 95% confidence interval, 2.9-95.9; p < 0.001) and lymph nodes (six of 18 compared with zero of 36 [0%], p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: It is extremely common for abnormal findings and incidental nodules to be present at the time of a staging CT scan in patients with sarcoma. Although patients with indeterminate nodules should have continued surveillance, it appears from this study that the majority of these findings do not represent true metastatic disease. Given a minimum followup of 6 months, it is possible the actual proportion of indeterminate lesions representing true metastatic disease may increase over time. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, prognostic study.

Dual-centre randomized-controlled trial comparing transurethral endoscopic enucleation of the prostate using diode laser vs. bipolar plasmakinetic for the treatment of LUTS secondary of benign prostate obstruction: 1-year follow-up results.

PURPOSE: Bipolar endoscopic enucleation of the prostate (BEEP) was recommended by the 2016 EAU guidelines as the first choice of surgical treatment in men with a substantially enlarged prostate and moderate-to-severe lower urinary tract symptoms. The main aim of this study was to compare a modified diode laser enucleation of the prostate (DiLEP) to BEEP. METHODS: A total of 114 patients with prostate (20-160 mL) were randomized 1:1 into either DiLEP or BEEP in a dual-centre, non-inferiority-design randomized-controlled trial. The primary outcomes included Qmax and IPSS at 12 months. Non-inferiority was evaluated by comparing the two-sided 95% CI for the mean differences of Qmax and IPSS. Secondary endpoints included other perioperative parameters, postoperative micturition variables, and complication rate. RESULTS: A total of 111 patients (97%) had completed the intent-to-treat analysis, The results showed that DiLEP was comparable to BEEP regarding Qmax (28.0 ± 7.0 vs. 28.1 ± 7.2 mL/s) and IPSS (3.0 ± 2.2 vs. 2.9 ± 2.6) at 12 months, the non-inferiority was met for both Qmax and IPSS. There were also no significant difference between two groups regarding tissue removal rate (71.8 vs. 73.8%), hemoglobin decrease (0.33 ± 0.66 vs. 0.36 ± 0.75 g/dL), sodium decrease (1.0 ± 2.7 vs. 0.3 ± 2.9 mmol/L), and Clavien III complications (5.3 vs. 1.8%) at 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: This DiLEP is an anatomical endoscopic enucleation technique for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia, it is non-inferior to BEEP regarding Qmax and IPSS at 12 months postoperatively.

Improved survival for extremity soft tissue sarcoma treated in high-volume facilities.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effect of hospital volume on treatment decisions, treatment results, and overall patient survival in extremity soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS: The National Cancer Database was used to identify patients ≥18 years of age with non-metastatic soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity treated with surgery. Patients in high- and low-volume centers were matched by propensity score and placed into two equal comparative groups of 2437 patients each. RESULTS: Chemotherapy was used at a higher rate in high-volume centers (22% vs 17%, P < 0.001) and external beam radiation usage was similar (55% vs 52%, P = 0.108). There was a lower incidence of positive margins in high-volume centers (12% vs 17%, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in the rates of limb salvage surgery or readmissions at high-volume hospitals compared to low-volume. In a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, low-volume facilities demonstrated diminished overall survival at all time points (hazard ratio at 5 years = 1.24, 95%CI 1.10-1.39). CONCLUSIONS: Treatment at high-volume hospitals was associated with fewer positive margins and increased overall survival at 2, 5, and 10 years. Continued efforts should focus on optimizing the balance between patient access to specialty care and experience of the treating center.

Analysis of Outcomes After TKA: Do All Databases Produce Similar Findings?

BACKGROUND: Use of large clinical and administrative databases for orthopaedic research has increased exponentially. Each database represents unique patient populations and varies in their methodology of data acquisition, which makes it possible that similar research questions posed to different databases might result in answers that differ in important ways. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) What are the differences in reported demographics, comorbidities, and complications for patients undergoing primary TKA among four databases commonly used in orthopaedic research? (2) How does the difference in reported complication rates vary depending on whether only inpatient data or 30-day postoperative data are analyzed? METHODS: Patients who underwent primary TKA during 2010 to 2012 were identified within the National Surgical Quality Improvement Programs (NSQIP), the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), the Medicare Standard Analytic Files (MED), and the Humana Administrative Claims database (HAC). NSQIP is a clinical registry that captures both inpatient and outpatient events up to 30 days after surgery using clinical reviewers and strict definitions for each variable. The other databases are administrative claims databases with their comorbidity and adverse event data defined by diagnosis and procedure codes used for reimbursement. NIS is limited to inpatient data only, whereas HAC and MED also have outpatient data. The number of patients undergoing primary TKA from each database was 48,248 in HAC, 783,546 in MED, 393,050 in NIS, and 43,220 in NSQIP. NSQIP definitions for comorbidities and surgical complications were matched to corresponding International Classification of Diseases, 9 Revision/Current Procedural Terminology codes and these coding algorithms were used to query NIS, MED, and HAC. Age, sex, comorbidities, and inpatient versus 30-day postoperative complications were compared across the four databases. Given the large sample sizes, statistical significance was often detected for small, clinically unimportant differences; thus, the focus of comparisons was whether the difference reached an absolute difference of twofold to signify an important clinical difference. RESULTS: Although there was a higher proportion of males in NIS and NSQIP and patients in NIS were younger, the difference was slight and well below our predefined threshold for a clinically important difference. There was variation in the prevalence of comorbidities and rates of postoperative complications among databases. The prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and coagulopathy in HAC and MED was more than twice that in NIS and NSQIP (relative risk [RR] for COPD: MED versus NIS 3.1, MED versus NSQIP 4.5, HAC versus NIS 3.6, HAC versus NSQIP 5.3; RR for coagulopathy: MED versus NIS 3.9, MED versus NSQIP 3.1, HAC versus NIS 3.3, HAC versus NSQIP 2.7; p < 0.001 for all comparisons). NSQIP had more than twice the obesity as NIS (RR 0.35). Rates of stroke within 30 days of TKA had more than a twofold difference among all databases (p < 0.001). HAC had more than twice the rates of 30-day complications at all endpoints compared with NSQIP and more than twice the 30-day infections as MED. A comparison of inpatient and 30-day complications rates demonstrated more than twice the amount of wound infections and deep vein thromboses is captured when data are analyzed out to 30 days after TKA (p < 0.001 for all comparisons). CONCLUSIONS: When evaluating research utilizing large databases, one must pay particular attention to the type of database used (administrative claims, clinical registry, or other kinds of databases), time period included, definitions utilized for specific variables, and the population captured to ensure it is best suited for the specific research question. Furthermore, with the advent of bundled payments, policymakers must meticulously consider the data sources used to ensure the data analytics match historical sources. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, therapeutic study.

Fundamentals of Arthroscopic Surgery Training Program Improves Knee Arthroscopy Simulator Performance in Arthroscopic Trainees.

PURPOSE: To determine the effectiveness of a nonanatomic simulator in developing basic arthroscopy motor skills transferable to an anatomic model. METHODS: Forty-three arthroscopy novice individuals currently enrolled in medical school were recruited to perform a diagnostic knee arthroscopy using a high-fidelity virtual reality arthroscopic simulator providing haptic feedback after viewing a video of an expert performing an identical procedure. Students were then randomized into an experimental or control group. The experimental group then completed a series of self-guided training modules using the fundamentals of arthroscopy simulator training nonanatomic modules including camera centering, tracking, periscoping, palpation, and collecting stars in a three-dimensional space. Both groups completed another diagnostic knee arthroscopy between 1 and 2 weeks later. Camera path length, time, tibia and femur cartilage damage, as well as a composite score were recorded by the simulator on each attempt. RESULTS: The experimental group (n = 22) showed superior performance in composite score (30.09 vs 24, P = .046) and camera path length (71.51 cm vs 109.07 cm, P = .0274) at the time of the second diagnostic knee arthroscope compared with the control group (n = 21). The experimental group also showed significantly greater improvement in composite score between the first and second arthroscopes compared with the control group (14.27 vs 4.95, P < .01). Femoral and tibial cartilage damage were not significantly improved between arthroscopy attempts (-0.86% vs -1.45%, P = .40) and (-1.10 vs -1.27%, P = .83), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The virtual reality-based fundamentals of arthroscopy simulator training nonanatomic simulator is beneficial in developing basic motor skills in arthroscopy novice individuals resulting in significantly greater composite performance in an anatomic knee model. Based on the results of this study, it appears that there may be benefit from nonanatomic simulators in general as part of an arthroscopy training program. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, randomized trial.

Comparison of Short-term Complications After Rotator Cuff Repair: Open Versus Arthroscopic.

PURPOSE: To define and compare the incidence and risk factors for short-term complications after arthroscopic and open rotator cuff repair (RTCR), and to identify independent risk factors for complications after RTCR. METHODS: All patients who underwent open or arthroscopic RTCR from 2005 to 2013 were identified in the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database. Short-term complications were categorized as surgical, medical, mortality, and unplanned 30-day readmission. Univariate analysis allowed the comparison of patient demographics and comorbidities. Propensity score matching was used to control for demographic differences between arthroscopic and open RTCR patient groups. Independent risk factors for complication were identified using multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Overall, 11,314 RTCRs were identified (24% open, 76% arthroscopic). The mean operative time for open RTCR was 78 minutes compared with 91 minutes for arthroscopic repairs (P < .001). The overall complication rate was 1.3%, with the highest complication unplanned return to the operating room (41 patients, 0.36%). The 30-day readmission was 1.16% (76/6,560 patients) and the mortality rate was 0.03% (3 patients). Total 30-day complications in the propensity-score-matched patient group were higher after open versus arthroscopic repair (1.79% vs 1.17%; P = .006). The overall infection rate after RTCR was 0.56%, with deep wound infection higher in the open repair patient group (P = .003). Multivariate analysis identified age >65 years (odds ratio [OR] 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2-2.3), operative time >90 minutes (OR 1.5; CI 1.1-2.1), and open RTCR (OR 1.6; CI 1.1-2.3) as independent risk factors for complications. CONCLUSIONS: Short-term complications after RTCR are rare. Total complications are higher after open RTCR in propensity-matched patient groups and in multivariate analysis. Risk factors for complications include patient age >65, operative time >90 minutes, and open repair. Open RTCR is associated with an increased risk of surgical infections. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective comparative trial.

Venous Thromboembolism Following Total Knee Arthroplasty: Does Race Matter?

BACKGROUND: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) (deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism) is a known complication following total knee arthroplasty (TKA). Recent literature has identified differences in VTE risk based on race with African Americans having higher risk of VTE. This study evaluated the impact of race on VTE following TKA using a large multicenter database. METHODS: We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to identify patients who underwent primary TKA in 2010-2014. Patients were stratified based on race: Asian, Black/African American, White, and Other. Demographics were compared to determine the impact on 30-day postoperative complications. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to control for confounding demographics and comorbidities between races. Primary outcomes included overall complications and VTE. RESULTS: In total, 96,230 patients were included. Univariate analysis demonstrated that Blacks had a significantly higher rate of any complication (5.5%), deep venous thrombosis (1.3%), and pulmonary embolism (1.1%) than other races (P = .007, P < .001, and P < .001, respectively). Overall mortality rate did not differ between races (P = .26). Multivariate regression analysis identified that Blacks were significantly more likely to have a VTE than Whites (odds ratio 1.7, 95% confidence interval 1.4-2.0). Overall complications were significantly higher for Blacks than Whites (odds ratio 1.1, 95% confidence interval 1.02-1.3). There were no differences in the rates of VTE or overall complications between Asians/Other races and Whites. CONCLUSION: Blacks have a significantly higher risk of VTE following primary TKA than other races. Future studies should investigate causes for this disparity.

Identifying Risk Factors for the Development of Stiffness After Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty.

BACKGROUND: Although there are several studies concerning manipulation under anesthesia (MUA) after primary total knee arthroplasty, there is a paucity of literature evaluating MUA after revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence, timing, and risk factors associated with MUA after rTKA. METHODS: The Humana database was reviewed from 2007 to 2015 for all patients who underwent rTKA. Patients who underwent rTKA followed by ipsilateral MUA were identified. Time to MUA was calculated monthly. Possible risk factors analyzed included preoperative narcotic use, smoking, anxiety and/or depression, diabetes, obesity, age, and sex. Multivariate logistic regression was used to determine odds ratio. RESULTS: In total, 5414 rTKAs were included in the study and 1.7% (n = 96) underwent MUA after surgery. Sixty-nine percent of MUAs occurred within the first 3 months after rTKA. Young patients (<50 years) had significantly higher odds of MUA after rTKA (6.5, P < .0001). No difference in odds of MUA (1.0, P = .85) occurred between males and females. A diagnosis of obesity, diabetes, anxiety and/or depression, previous history of narcotic use, or a history of smoking demonstrated no increased risk of MUA after rTKA. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that younger age remained predictive of higher odds of MUA after rTKA. CONCLUSION: In this large multicenter cohort study, 1.7% of patients underwent MUA after rTKA and younger patients were 6 times more likely to have a MUA than patients over 50 years old. These data should serve to help counsel patients regarding their risk of MUA after rTKA.

Complications and Obesity in Arthroplasty-A Hip is Not a Knee.

BACKGROUND: Obesity has previously been demonstrated to be an independent risk factor for increased complications after total hip and knee arthroplasties (THA and TKA). The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of obesity and body mass index (BMI) to determine whether the magnitude of the effect was similar for both procedures. METHODS: We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program database to identify patients who underwent primary THA or TKA between 2010 and 2014. Patients were stratified by procedure and classified as nonobese, obese, or morbidly obese according to BMI. Thirty-day rates of wound complications, deep infection, total complications, and reoperation were compared using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: We identified 64,648 patients who underwent THA and 97,137 patients who underwent TKA. Obese THA patients had significantly higher rates of wound complications (1.53% vs 0.96%), deep infection (0.31% vs 0.17%), reoperation rate (2.11% vs 1.02%), and total complications (5.22% vs 4.63%) compared with TKA patients. Morbidly obese patients undergoing THA were also found to have significantly higher rates of wound complications (3.25% vs 1.52%), deep infection (0.84% vs 0.23%), reoperation rate (3.65% vs 1.60%), and total complications (7.36% vs 5.57%). Multivariate regression analysis identified increasingly higher odds of each outcome measure as BMI increased. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that the impact of obesity on postoperative complications is more profound for THA than TKA. This emphasizes the importance of considering patient comorbidities in the context of the specific procedure when assessing risks of surgery.

What Is the Impact of Smoking on Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty?

BACKGROUND: There is a paucity of literature evaluating the impact of smoking on revision arthroplasty procedures. The purpose of this study was to identify the effect of smoking on complications after revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA). METHODS: We queried the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database to identify patients who underwent rTKA between 2006 and 2014. Patients were divided into current smokers and nonsmokers according to the NSQIP definitions. Each cohort was compared in terms of demographic data, preoperative comorbidities, and operative time. Infection end points were created from composite surgical site infection variables defined by the NSQIP database. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was utilized to adjust for confounding variables and calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and associated 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). RESULTS: In total, 8776 patients underwent rTKA. Of these patients, 11.6% were current smokers. Univariate analyses demonstrated that smokers had a higher rate of any wound complication (3.8% vs 1.8%, P < .0001), deep infection (2.5% vs 1.0%, P < .0001), pneumonia (1.3% vs 0.4%, P < .0001), and reoperation (5.0% vs 3.1%, P = .001) compared to nonsmokers undergoing revision total knee arthroplasty. Multivariate analysis identified current smokers as being at a significantly increased risk of any wound complication (OR 2.1; 95% CI 1.4-3.1) and deep infection (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.2-3.6) after rTKA. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that smoking significantly increases the risk of infection, wound complications, and reoperation after rTKA. The results are even more magnified for revision procedures compared to published effects of smoking on primary total knee arthroplasty complications. Further research is needed regarding the impact of smoking cessation on mitigation of these observed risks.