Scalable Synthesis of Selenide Solid-State Electrolytes for Sodium-Ion Batteries.

Solid-state sodium-ion batteries employing superionic solid-state electrolytes (SSEs) offer low manufacturing costs and improved safety and are considered to be a promising alternative to current Li-ion batteries. Solid-state electrolytes must have high chemical/electrochemical stability and superior ionic conductivity. In this work, we employed precursor and solvent engineering to design scalable and cost-efficient solution routes to produce air-stable sodium selenoantimonate (Na3SbSe4). First, a simple metathesis route is demonstrated for the production of the Sb2Se3 precursor that is subsequently used to form ternary Na3SbSe4 through two different routes: alcohol-mediated redox and alkahest amine-thiol approaches. In the former, the electrolyte was successfully synthesized in EtOH by using a similar redox solution coupled with Sb2Se3, Se, and NaOH as a basic reagent. In the alkahest approach, an amine-thiol solvent mixture is utilized for the dissolution of elemental Se and Na and further reaction with the binary precursor to obtain Na3SbSe4. Both routes produced electrolytes with room temperature ionic conductivity (∼0.2 mS cm-1) on par with reported performance from other conventional thermo-mechanical routes. These novel solution-phase approaches showcase the diversity and application of wet chemistry in producing selenide-based electrolytes for all-solid-state sodium batteries.

Post-infarction ventricular septal defect: percutaneous or surgical management in the UK national registry.

AIMS: Post-infarction ventricular septal defect (PIVSD) is a mechanical complication of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with a poor prognosis. Surgical repair is the mainstay of treatment, although percutaneous closure is increasingly undertaken. METHODS AND RESUTS: Patients treated with surgical or percutaneous repair of PIVSD (2010-2021) were identified at 16 UK centres. Case note review was undertaken. The primary outcome was long-term mortality. Patient groups were allocated based upon initial management (percutaneous or surgical). Three-hundred sixty-two patients received 416 procedures (131 percutaneous, 231 surgery). 16.1% of percutaneous patients subsequently had surgery. 7.8% of surgical patients subsequently had percutaneous treatment. Times from AMI to treatment were similar [percutaneous 9 (6-14) vs. surgical 9 (4-22) days, P = 0.18]. Surgical patients were more likely to have cardiogenic shock (62.8% vs. 51.9%, P = 0.044). Percutaneous patients were substantially older [72 (64-77) vs. 67 (61-73) years, P < 0.001] and more likely to be discussed in a heart team setting. There was no difference in long-term mortality between patients (61.1% vs. 53.7%, P = 0.17). In-hospital mortality was lower in the surgical group (55.0% vs. 44.2%, P = 0.048) with no difference in mortality after hospital discharge (P = 0.65). Cardiogenic shock [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.97 (95% confidence interval 1.37-2.84), P < 0.001), percutaneous approach [aHR 1.44 (1.01-2.05), P = 0.042], and number of vessels with coronary artery disease [aHR 1.22 (1.01-1.47), P = 0.043] were independently associated with long-term mortality. CONCLUSION: Surgical and percutaneous repair are viable options for management of PIVSD. There was no difference in post-discharge long-term mortality between patients, although in-hospital mortality was lower for surgery.

Towards a contemporary, comprehensive scoring system for determining technical outcomes of hybrid percutaneous chronic total occlusion treatment: The RECHARGE score.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to create a contemporary scoring tool to predict technical outcomes of chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) from patients treated by hybrid operators with differing experience levels. BACKGROUND: Current scoring systems need regular updating to cope with the positive evolutions regarding materials, techniques, and outcomes, while at the same time being applicable for a broad range of operators. METHODS: Clinical and angiographic characteristics from 880 CTO-PCIs included in the REgistry of CrossBoss and Hybrid procedures in FrAnce, the NetheRlands, BelGium and UnitEd Kingdom (RECHARGE) were analyzed by using a derivation and validation set (2:1 ratio). Variables significantly associated with technical failure in the multivariable analysis were incorporated in the score. Subsequently, the discriminatory capacity was assessed and the validation set was used to compare with the J-CTO score and PROGRESS scores. RESULTS: Technical success in the derivation and validation sets was 83% and 85%, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified six parameters associated with technical failure: blunt stump (beta coefficient (b) = 1.014); calcification (b = 0.908); tortuosity ≥45° (b = 0.964); lesion length 20 mm (b = 0.556); diseased distal landing zone (b = 0.794), and previous bypass graft on CTO vessel (b = 0.833). Score variables remained significant after bootstrapping. The RECHARGE score showed better discriminatory capacity in both sets (area-under-the-curve (AUC) = 0.783 and 0.711), compared to the J-CTO (AUC = 0.676) and PROGRESS (AUC = 0.608) scores. CONCLUSIONS: The RECHARGE score is a novel, easy-to-use tool for assessing the risk for technical failure in hybrid CTO-PCI and has the potential to perform well for a broad community of operators. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Anesthesia and bariatric surgery gut preparation alter plasma acylcarnitines reflective of mitochondrial fat and branched-chain amino acid oxidation.

The period around bariatric surgery offers a unique opportunity to characterize metabolism responses to dynamic shifts in energy, gut function, and anesthesia. We analyzed plasma acylcarnitines in obese women (n = 17) sampled in the overnight fasted/postabsorptive state approximately 1-2 wk before surgery (condition A), the morning of surgery (prior restriction to a 48-h clear liquid diet coupled in some cases a standard polyethylene glycol gut evacuation: condition B), and following induction of anesthesia (condition C). Comparisons tested if 1) plasma acylcarnitine derivatives reflective of fatty acid oxidation (FAO) and xenometabolism would be significantly increased and decreased, respectively, by preoperative gut preparation/negative energy balance (condition A vs. B), and 2) anesthesia would acutely depress markers of FAO. Acylcarnitines associated with fat mobilization and FAO were significantly increased in condition B: long-chain acylcarnitines (i.e., C18:1, ~70%), metabolites from active but incomplete FAO [i.e., C14:1 (161%) and C14:2 (102%)] and medium- to short-chain acylcarnitines [i.e., C2 (91%), R-3-hydroxybutyryl-(245%), C6 (45%), and cis-3,4-methylene-heptanoyl-(17%), etc.]. Branched-chain amino acid markers displayed disparate patterns [i.e., isobutyryl-(40% decreased) vs. isovaleryl carnitine (51% increased)]. Anesthesia reduced virtually every acylcarnitine. These results are consistent with a fasting-type metabolic phenotype coincident with the presurgical "gut preparation" phase of bariatric surgery, and a major and rapid alteration of both fat and amino acid metabolism with onset of anesthesia. Whether presurgical or anesthesia-associated metabolic shifts in carnitine and fuel metabolism impact patient outcomes or surgical risks remains to be evaluated experimentally.

Contributions of adipose tissue architectural and tensile properties toward defining healthy and unhealthy obesity.

The extracellular matrix (ECM) plays an important role in the maintenance of white adipose tissue (WAT) architecture and function, and proper ECM remodeling is critical to support WAT malleability to accommodate changes in energy storage needs. Obesity and adipocyte hypertrophy place a strain on the ECM remodeling machinery, which may promote disordered ECM and altered tissue integrity and could promote proinflammatory and cell stress signals. To explore these questions, new methods were developed to quantify omental and subcutaneous WAT tensile strength and WAT collagen content by three-dimensional confocal imaging, using collagen VI knockout mice as a methods validation tool. These methods, combined with comprehensive measurement of WAT ECM proteolytic enzymes, transcript, and blood analyte analyses, were used to identify unique pathophenotypes of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus in obese women, using multivariate statistical modeling and univariate comparisons with weight-matched healthy obese individuals. In addition to the expected differences in inflammation and glycemic control, approximately 20 ECM-related factors, including omental tensile strength, collagen, and enzyme transcripts, helped discriminate metabolically compromised obesity. This is consistent with the hypothesis that WAT ECM physiology is intimately linked to metabolic health in obese humans, and the studies provide new tools to explore this relationship.

Single-site robotic cholecystectomy in a broadly inclusive patient population: a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To describe our initial experience with single-site robotic cholecystectomy (SSRC) and its applicability to a broad segment of patients. BACKGROUND: At the initiation of our study, there were only 3 published reports on SSRC. These initial studies had limited inclusion criteria. We present our experience with the technical aspects and patient outcomes of SSRC in a broadly inclusive patient population. METHODS: Prospective cohort study from January 2012 to January 2013, in which 95 patients underwent SSRC. Procedural times, postoperative complications, delayed hospital discharges, and re-admissions were evaluated. RESULTS: Patients were predominantly female (71.6%) had mean age of 45.2 ± 6.1 years and mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.1 ± 7.1 kg/m. Overall, mean total operative time (TOT) for all patients (n = 95) was 88.63 ± 32.0 (range: 49-220) minutes. SSRC was not completed in 8 (8.42%) patients: 6 conversions to laparoscopy, 1 conversion to open, and 1 aborted case. The group of patients who were able to complete SSRC (n = 87) had a mean TOT of 83.5 ± 24.5 minutes and mean operative robotic time (RT) of 39.6 ± 15.2 minutes. RT was longer in patients with intra-abdominal adhesions (P = 0.0139) and higher BMI (P = 0.03). A minority of patients required hospital admission (11.6%), readmission (6.3%), or reoperation (1.1%). No bile duct injury or death occurred. CONCLUSIONS: SSRC is safe and has a manageable learning curve. Patient factors, such as obesity, did not significantly affect conversion rates or TOTs. SSRC is a promising new technique, which can be offered to a wide array of patients.

Chronic total occlusion in non-ST elevation myocardial infarction - A multi-centre observational study.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of patients with a chronic total occlusion (CTO) in a Non-ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction (NSTEMI) cohort. BACKGROUND: There is limited data on the clinical characteristics, revascularisation strategies and outcomes of patients presenting with a NSTEMI and a CTO. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of a six-centre percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) registry in the UK between January 2015 and December 2020 was performed. Patients with a NSTEMI with and without a CTO were compared for baseline characteristics and outcomes. RESULTS: There were 17,355 NSTEMI patients in total of whom 1813 patients had a CTO (10.4 %). Patients with a CTO were more likely to be older (CTO: 67.8 (±11.5) years vs. no CTO: 67.2 (±12) years, p = 0.04), male (CTO: 81.1 % vs.71.9 %, p < 0.0001) with a greater prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors. All-cause mortality at 30 days: HR 2.63, 95 % CI 1.42-4.84, p = 0.002 and at 1 year: HR: 1.87, 95 % CI 1.25-2.81, p = 0.003 was higher in the CTO cohort. CTO patients who underwent revascularisation were younger (Revascularisation 66.4 [±11.7] years vs. no revascularisation 68.4 [±11.4] years, p = 0.001). Patients with failed CTO revascularisation had lower survival (HR 0.21, 95 % CI 0.10-0.42, p < 0.0001). The mean time to revascularisation was 13.4 days. There was variation in attempt at CTO revascularisation between the 6 centres for (16 % to 100 %) with success rates ranging from 65 to 100 %. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the presence of a CTO in NSTEMI patients undergoing PCI was associated with worse in-hospital and long-term outcomes.

Regulation of adipose branched-chain amino acid catabolism enzyme expression and cross-adipose amino acid flux in human obesity.

Elevated blood branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) are often associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes, which might result from a reduced cellular utilization and/or incomplete BCAA oxidation. White adipose tissue (WAT) has become appreciated as a potential player in whole body BCAA metabolism. We tested if expression of the mitochondrial BCAA oxidation checkpoint, branched-chain α-ketoacid dehydrogenase (BCKD) complex, is reduced in obese WAT and regulated by metabolic signals. WAT BCKD protein (E1α subunit) was significantly reduced by 35-50% in various obesity models (fa/fa rats, db/db mice, diet-induced obese mice), and BCKD component transcripts significantly lower in subcutaneous (SC) adipocytes from obese vs. lean Pima Indians. Treatment of 3T3-L1 adipocytes or mice with peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonists increased WAT BCAA catabolism enzyme mRNAs, whereas the nonmetabolizable glucose analog 2-deoxy-d-glucose had the opposite effect. The results support the hypothesis that suboptimal insulin action and/or perturbed metabolic signals in WAT, as would be seen with insulin resistance/type 2 diabetes, could impair WAT BCAA utilization. However, cross-tissue flux studies comparing lean vs. insulin-sensitive or insulin-resistant obese subjects revealed an unexpected negligible uptake of BCAA from human abdominal SC WAT. This suggests that SC WAT may not be an important contributor to blood BCAA phenotypes associated with insulin resistance in the overnight-fasted state. mRNA abundances for BCAA catabolic enzymes were markedly reduced in omental (but not SC) WAT of obese persons with metabolic syndrome compared with weight-matched healthy obese subjects, raising the possibility that visceral WAT contributes to the BCAA metabolic phenotype of metabolically compromised individuals.

Clinical and treatment characteristics of secondary bladder malignancies following low dose rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To characterize the clinical course and prognosis of bladder malignancies associated with prior prostate brachytherapy SUBJECTS/PATIENTS AND METHODS: We queried our institutional database for patients with bladder cancer (BC) diagnosed between January 2005 and April 2019 who had previously undergone low dose rate (LDR) prostate brachytherapy. Patients diagnosed with BC at least 1 year following LDR prostate brachytherapy with or without external beam radiation therapy were included. Clinical and disease-specific characteristics were abstracted from chart review and survival outcomes were estimated using Kaplan-Meier estimates. We compared the pathologic characteristics and prognosis of secondary BCs in our study cohort to those of BCs diagnosed after prostate cancer managed without radiation reported by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) populational database from 2005 to 2018. RESULTS: Three hundred seventy-five patients were identified with combined diagnosis of prostate cancer and BC, 51 of whom met inclusion criteria in the study cohort. Median times from brachytherapy to BC diagnosis for the study and SEER cohort were 9.5 ± 4.5 and 6.3 ± 4.1 years, respectively. Compared to the SEER cohort, significantly greater proportion of BC from the study cohort presented with high-grade (study: 78.4%, SEER: 52.3%, P = 0.0008) and with MIBC (Study BC 35.3%, SEER BC: 17.5%, P = 0.0009). The study and the SEER cohort had similar 5-year overall survival (study: 67.9%, SEER: 58.0%, P = 0.1099), and 5-year cancer-specific survival (study: 81.0%, SEER: 82.8%, P = 0.5559). The 5-year progression-free survival for the study cohort was 43.7% (95% CI: 28.8-57.7). CONCLUSION: Compared to bladder cancers following prostate cancer managed without radiation, bladder malignancies following prostate LDR brachytherapy present with higher grade and are more likely to be muscle invasive. Despite the aggressive presenting features of postprostate brachytherapy BC, there were no differences in overall and cancer-specific survival between the groups.

The Rise of Open Access Journals in Radiation Oncology: Influence on Resident Research, 2015 to 2019.

Purpose: While a rising share of scientific research articles are being published in open access (OA) journals, their impact on resident research in radiation oncology is unknown. Thus, we sought to determine the number, content, and costs of first-author, PubMed-searchable articles radiation oncology residents in the United States (US) published in OA journals in recent years. Methods and Materials: We built a database of first-author, PubMed-searchable articles published by US radiation oncology residents who graduated between 2015 and 2019. We then classified each journal in which these articles appeared as either OA or non-OA and obtained the current article-processing charge (APC) for each publication that appeared in an OA journal. Results: The residents in this study published 2637 first-author, PubMed-searchable articles, 555 of which (21.0%) appeared in 138 OA journals. The number of publications in OA journals per resident increased from 0.47 for the class of 2015 to 0.79 for the class of 2019. Publications in OA journals garnered fewer citations than those in non-OA journals (8.9 vs 14.9, P < .01). Furthermore, 90.6% of OA journals levy an APC for original research reports (median, $1896), which is positively correlated with their 2019 impact factor (r = 0.63, P < .01). Aggregate APCs totaled $900,319.21 and appeared to increase over the study period. Conclusions: The number of first-author, PubMed-searchable articles published by graduating US radiation oncology residents in OA journals rose significantly between 2015 and 2019. To maximize the benefits of OA publishing in the future, US radiation oncology residents will need to ensure that they use vetted OA journals to publish their research findings and avoid predatory journals.

Salvage low dose rate brachytherapy for prostate cancer recurrence following definitive external beam radiation therapy.

PURPOSE: We sought to describe the safety and efficacy of salvage low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy for local prostate cancer recurrence following definitive RT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included patients from two prospectively maintained institutional databases who underwent salvage LDR brachytherapy for biopsy confirmed intra-prostatic recurrence following primary RT. All patients were without evidence of metastatic disease. Freedom from biochemical failure (FFbF), prostate cancer specific survival (PCaSS), and overall survival (OS) were determined using the Kaplan-Meier estimates. Cox proportional hazard models were used to identify factors predictive of FFbF. Toxicity was graded by Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. RESULTS: 108 patients were included. Median follow-up was 6.3 years. The 5- and 10-year actuarial survival outcomes were as follows: FFbF, 63.1% and 52.0%; PCaSS, 90.5% and 77.8%; OS, 80.9% and 56.7%. On multivariate modeling, increasing grade group (HR 1.41, 95% CI 1.02-1.95, p = 0.036) and initial PSA at diagnosis (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.004-1.05, p = 0.022) were associated with worse FFbF. Grade 3 toxicity occurred in 16.7% of patients; including genitourinary events in 15.7% and gastrointestinal events in 2.8% of patients. IPSS scores increased following implant, peaking at 2 months (median IPSS 20, p = 0.002) and thereafter remaining elevated throughout follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Salvage LDR brachytherapy is safe and efficacious, with acceptable grade 3+ toxicity and good biochemical control on long-term follow-up. Patients with higher grade group and higher PSA at initial diagnosis may be at increased risk for biochemical failure.

Radiation Oncology Resident Research Productivity in the United States: 2015 to 2019.

PURPOSE: Multiple efforts have been made in recent years to establish national benchmarks for research productivity among US radiation oncology residents. Morgan et al found a mean of 1.01 first-author, PubMed-searchable articles published by US radiation oncology residents over 4 years of residency between 2002 and 2007, whereas Verma et al found a mean of 1.97 first-author, PubMed-searchable articles published by members of the graduating US radiation oncology residency classes of 2014 and 2015. In this study, we sought to establish new national benchmarks for US radiation oncology resident research productivity and characterize the scholarly work produced by graduating US radiation oncology residents. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We built a database of US radiation oncology residents who graduated between 2015 and 2019 using multiple sources of publicly available data. We subsequently searched the PubMed database to identify all first-author publications for every resident in our database from the start of residency until 3 months after the completion of residency. Publications were categorized by type (original research, review, case report, or commentary) and content. We performed a secondary analysis to identify factors associated with an increased probability of publishing during residency. RESULTS: We identified 909 US radiation oncology residency graduates from 89 residency programs between 2015 and 2019. Collectively, these graduates published 2637 first-author, PubMed-searchable articles (mean: 2.90; median: 2.0; range, 0-58; interquartile range, 1-4) in 392 distinct peer-reviewed journals during their residency, and 69.7% of the first-author publications comprised original research. On multivariable analysis, only residency size was predictive of publishing a first-author manuscript during residency. Among residents with at least 1 first-author manuscript, male sex, lack of a doctorate degree, and residency size were all significant predictors of the number of first-author manuscripts published during residency. CONCLUSIONS: US radiation oncology resident research productivity, as measured by the number of first-author, PubMed-searchable publications, has increased compared with historical data. However, substantial variability exists in resident research productivity nationwide.

The Holman Research Pathway in Radiation Oncology: 2010 to 2019.

PURPOSE: There has not been an assessment of the Holman Research Pathway (HRP) in radiation oncology (RO) in nearly 10 years. In this study, we sought to review the demographic characteristics, research productivity during and after residency, job placements, and National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant funding of RO residents who completed the HRP in the modern era. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We created a comprehensive database of RO residents who completed the HRP between 2010 and 2019. Using a variety of data sources, we obtained demographic information, first-author manuscripts published in residency, and first- and last-author manuscripts published in the first 30 months after residency for each resident. In addition, we identified the first and current job and NIH grant funding for each resident. RESULTS: Ninety-seven RO residents who graduated from 50 medical schools and 25 residency programs were included. The majority were male (82.5%), had a PhD (92.8%), and identified as white (64.9%). Collectively, these residents published 212 first-author, PubMed-searchable manuscripts during residency (mean: 2.2) and 142 first- or last-author, PubMed-searchable manuscripts in the first 30 months after completion of residency (mean: 1.5). The number of first-author publications authored by HRP graduates during residency was highly correlated (r = 0.62; P < .01) with the number of first- and last-author publications they authored during the first 30 months after completing residency. Ninety-six of the 97 residents (99.0%) were employed in full-time clinical positions after completing residency. Seventy-six HRP residents (78.4%) obtained an academic position as their first job after residency, only 4 of whom have since left academia, and 20 (20.6%) obtained a nonacademic position. Of the 75 HRP graduates currently employed in an academic position, 39 (52.0%) have their own laboratories. Twenty-three of the 96 HRP residents (24.0%) who secured employment in full-time clinical positions after residency switched jobs over the study period. Lastly, 33 of the 97 HRP residents (34.0%) have thus far received 47 extramural NIH research grants, 15 of which were R-01 grants. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past decade, the HRP has proven successful in training a new cohort of physician investigators in RO. Although productive, HRP residents have had relatively homogenous sex, educational, and racial backgrounds. Ensuring sufficient representation of residents from a variety of backgrounds in the HRP in the future will be crucial.

A case report of capillary leak syndrome with recurrent pericardial and pleural effusions.

BACKGROUND: Capillary leak syndrome (CLS) is a rare connective tissue disease, triggered by the leak of serous fluid into the interstitial spaces, characterized by a hallmark of oedema and effusions in confined spaces. The limiting factor in CLS management appears to be its diagnosis rather than treatment, which is usually to contain the disease progression rather than a cure. CASE SUMMARY: We report a case of a 51-year-old woman with recurrent life-threatening presentations of pericardial effusions, pleural effusions, and generalized swelling of face and extremities. The only notable past medical history was of Type 1 diabetes. Numerous investigations did not lead to specific disease accounting for pericardial effusions and pleural effusions. Eventually, the diagnosis of CLS was made based on hypovolaemic shock, hypoalbuminaemia, and haemoconcentration without the presence of albuminuria. She was managed with steroids to reduce system inflammation and later with immunoglobulins and tumour necrosis factor to contain the disease process. Since her diagnosis and subsequent appropriate management, she has not had further admissions with cardiac tamponade 16 months of follow-up. DISCUSSION: The diagnosis of CLS is difficult to make unless there is a high degree of suspicion and until other causes have been ruled out. It remains a challenging condition to manage as the treatment options are limited and patients recurrently present with emergencies until the correct diagnosis is made and the optimal treatment is provided.

Estimating cost implications of potentially avoidable hospitalizations among Oncology Care Model patients with prostate cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: We sought to estimate the expected cost savings generated if a set of potentially avoidable hospitalizations (PAHs) among oncology care model (OCM) patients with prostate cancer were shifted to an acute care model in the outpatient setting. METHODS: We previously identified a set of 28 PAHs among OCM prostate cancer patients. Outpatient management costs for a characteristically similar cohort of cancer patients were obtained from our institution's ambulatory acute-care Oncology Care Unit (OCU). We excluded OCU visits resulting in hospitalization, involving non-cancer diagnoses, and those missing clinical/financial information. Exact-matching based on the strata of age, categorically-defined presenting complaint, and systemic disease was used to match PAHs to OCU acute care visits. PAH costs obtained from OCM data were compared to costs from matched OCU visits. RESULTS: We identified 130 acute care OCU visits, of which 47 met inclusion criteria. Twenty-four PAHs (89%) matched to 26 of these OCU visits. PAHs accounted for 5.8% of OCM expenditures during our study period. The mean inpatient cost among matched PAHs was $15,885 compared to $6,227 for matched OCU visits. Boot strapping within each match stratum produced a mean estimated cost savings of $12,151 (95% CI $10,488 to $13,814) per PAH. We estimate this per event savings to yield a 4.4% (95% CI 3.8% to 5.0%) an overall spending decrement for OCM prostate cancer episodes. CONCLUSIONS: PAHs contribute meaningfully to costs of care in oncology. Investment in specialized ambulatory acute care services for oncology patients could lead to substantial cost savings.

Early career development in academic pediatrics of participants in the APS-SPR Medical Student Research Program.

To recruit and train the next generations of pediatric clinician-scientists, the American Pediatric Society and Society for Pediatric Research initiated a program in 1991 to support medical students with interests in research and pediatrics to conduct research at institutions other than their respective medical schools. Since 1991, the American Pediatric Society-Society for Pediatric Research Medical Student Research Program (MSRP) has funded 732 of 2209 applicants from 132 US or Canadian medical schools for 8-12 wk of research under the direction of experienced investigators. PubMed-attributable publications tabulated in 2001 for MSRP applicants through 2000 indicated that participants had published more actively than had nonparticipant applicants. Male nonparticipants exhibited greater publication activities than did female nonparticipants, but female and male participants published equally. Of all MSRP participants between 1991 and 1996, as of 2008, 36% were in pediatrics, and a remarkable 29% were in academic pediatrics.

Risk of prolonged opioid use among cancer patients undergoing curative intent radiation therapy for head and neck malignancies.

OBJECTIVE: Patients undergoing radiation treatment (RT) for head and neck malignancies often suffer significant disease- and treatment-related pain requiring opioids for effective management. However, the prevalence and associated risk factors of prolonged opioid use in this population remain poorly characterized. We sought to quantify the rate of prolonged opioid use among opioid naïve patients receiving curative-intent RT for head and neck malignancies and to identify associated risk factors. METHODS: We retrospectively identified patients who had undergone RT for head and neck malignancies at our institution between Jan 2011 and Sept 2017. Our primary endpoint was persistent opioid use 6-months following completion of RT. Patients were included if they were opioid-naïve, underwent curative intent RT, had adequate follow-up, and did not have residual or recurrent disease within our follow-up period. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression was utilized to identify risk factors for prolonged opioid use. RESULTS: We identified 311 patients meeting our inclusion criteria; 40 (12.9%) continued to use opioids 6-months following RT. Univariable analysis found current smoking, alcohol abuse, RT dose, treatment to the bilateral necks, induction chemotherapy, concurrent chemotherapy, PEG tube, daily milligram morphine equivalents, and adjuvant analgesic medication use to be positively associated with prolonged opioid use; prior surgery was negatively associated with prolonged opioid use. Delivery of induction chemotherapy (OR 2.86, CI (95%) 1.32-6.21) and alcohol abuse (OR 3.75, CI (95%) 1.66-8.47) remained statistically significant on multivariable analysis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of prolonged opioid use in previously opioid naïve patients undergoing curative intent head and neck RT was just under 13%. Patients with history of alcohol abuse and those who undergo induction chemotherapy were most at risk.

Mechanical Mitral Valve Replacement during the 2nd Trimester of Pregnancy.

We report the case of a 44-year-old pregnant woman who was diagnosed with symptomatic severe mitral stenosis that did not respond to optimal medical therapy and balloon valvuloplasty. After a multidisciplinary team discussion on the timing and risks of interventions and postoperative optimization of peripartum anticoagulation, the patient underwent mechanical mitral valve replacement during the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. The outcome was excellent for the mother and the infant. This case emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing unusual cases.

One-Year Clinical Outcomes of the Hybrid CTO Revascularization Strategy After Hospital Discharge: A Subanalysis of the Multicenter RECHARGE Registry.

OBJECTIVES: Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of chronic total occlusion (CTO) has historically been associated with higher event rates during follow-up. The hybrid algorithm and contemporary wiring and dissection re-entry (DR) techniques can potentially improve long-term outcomes after CTO-PCI. This study assessed the long-term clinical outcomes of the hybrid CTO practice, when applied by operators with varying experience levels. METHODS: We examined the 1-year clinical events after hospital discharge of the RECHARGE population, according to technical outcome and final technique. The primary endpoint was major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate. Centers that provided ≥90% complete 12-month follow-up were included. RESULTS: Follow-up data of 1067 out of 1165 patients (92%) were provided by 13 centers. Mean follow-up duration was 362.8 ± 0.9 days. One-year MACE-free survival rate was 91.3% (974/1067). MACE included death (1.9%; n = 20), myocardial infarction (1.4%; n = 15), target-vessel failure (5.9%; n = 63), and target-vessel revascularization (TVR) (5.5%; n = 59). Non-TVR was performed in 6.7% (n = 71). MACE was significantly in favor of successful CTO-PCI (8.0% vs 13%; P=.04), even after adjusting for baseline differences (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.36-0.98; P=.04). Other events, including individual MACE components, were comparable with respect to technical outcome and final technique (DR vs non-DR techniques). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the hybrid algorithm with contemporary techniques by moderate to highly experienced operators for CTO-PCI is safe and associated with a low 1-year event rate. Successful procedures are associated with a better MACE rate. DR techniques can be used as first-line strategies alongside intimal wiring techniques without compromising clinical outcomes.