Preoperative Risk Factors for Discharge to Facility After Surgery in Geriatric Patients.

BACKGROUND: The Geriatric Surgery Verification Program (GSV) was developed to address perioperative care for patients ≥75 years, with a goal of improving outcomes and functional abilities after surgery. We sought to evaluate preoperative factors that place patients at risk for inability to return home (ie, discharge to a facility). METHODS: Retrospective review of patients ≥75 years old who underwent inpatient surgery from January 2018 to December 2022 at a referral Veterans Administration Medical Center enrolled in the GSV program. Preoperative factors included fall history, mobility aids, housing status, function, cognition, and nutritional status. Postoperative outcomes were discharge designations as home and home with services compared to a facility (skilled nursing facility and acute rehab). Exclusion criteria included preoperative facility residence, cardiac surgery, hospital transfer, postoperative complications, hospice discharge, or in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: 605 patients met inclusion criteria and 173 (29%) excluded as above. Of the remaining 432 patients, mean age was 79 ± 5 and the majority were male, 426 (99%). The majority of patients were discharged home, 388 (90%), compared to a facility, 44 (10%). Patients with a fall history (OR: 2.95, 95% CI: 1.56, 5.57), utilizing a mobility aid (OR: 6.0, 95% CI: 2.8, 12.83), were partial or totally dependent (OR: 4.83, 95% CI: 2.29, 10.17), or who lived alone (OR: 2.57, 95% CI: 1.08, 6.07) had higher rates of discharge to a facility. DISCUSSION: Preoperative mobility compromise and functional dependence are associated with higher rates of discharge to a facility. These preoperative factors are possibly modifiable with multidisciplinary care teams to decrease risks of facility placement.

Feeding Tube Clinic Effect on Nutrition.

BACKGROUND: Optimizing nutrition is essential for recovery after major surgery or severe illness. Feeding tubes (FT) can be placed in patients limited by oral enteral nutrition. Given the myriad of locations in which these procedures are performed (radiology, intensive care unit, and endoscopy suite), routine follow-up is challenging. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of an FT clinic on nutrition. We hypothesized that enrollment in the FT clinic would result in improved nutritional outcomes. METHODS: Retrospective review of Veteran Affairs Medical Center patients with FTs placed from January 2010 to January 2020. Demographics and body mass index (BMI) were recorded. Serum albumin recorded within 1 month of tube placement was compared to within 1 month of tube removal, death, or at the end of the study period. FT clinic participation required at least 2 visits. Indications for FT placement and duration were recorded. Patients were excluded when both BMI and albumin values were incomplete, and if FTs were placed for decompression. RESULTS: Ninety-three patients underwent FT placement during the study period; 5 (5%) were excluded. The average age was 64.8±9.7 years, with the majority being male, 85 patients (97%). Eighteen (20%) patients were seen in the FT clinic (FTC) and 70 (80%) were managed outside of FTC (nFTC). There were no differences in age, gender, or indication for FT. Mean albumin increased 0.42±0.85 g/dL in the FTC group versus -0.07±0.72 g/dL in the nFTC group (P=0.037). The FTC group BMI increased, 0.38 kg/m2 vs. -1.48 kg/m2 in nFTC patients, P=0.041. The FTC patients maintained their tubes longer (36.5 vs. 7.0 mo, P=0.0014). CONCLUSIONS: Patients managed in a dedicated FT clinic experienced an improvement in their serum albumin values and increases in their BMI. In addition, they also maintained their FTs longer. To optimize nutrition and reduce weight loss, patients who require FTs should be enrolled in a dedicated FT clinic.

Aging and intraocular pressure homeostasis in mice.

Age and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) are the two primary risk factors for glaucoma, an optic neuropathy that is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. In most people, IOP is tightly regulated over a lifetime by the conventional outflow tissues. However, the mechanistic contributions of age to conventional outflow dysregulation, elevated IOP and glaucoma are unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, we studied how age affects the morphology, biomechanical properties and function of conventional outflow tissues in C57BL/6 mice, which have an outflow system similar to humans. As reported in humans, we observed that IOP in mice was maintained within a tight range over their lifespan. Remarkably, despite a constellation of age-related changes to the conventional outflow tissues that would be expected to hinder aqueous drainage and impair homeostatic function (decreased cellularity, increased pigment accumulation, increased cellular senescence and increased stiffness), outflow facility, a measure of conventional outflow tissue fluid conductivity, was stable with age. We conclude that the murine conventional outflow system has significant functional reserve in healthy eyes. However, these age-related changes, when combined with other underlying factors, such as genetic susceptibility, are expected to increase risk for ocular hypertension and glaucoma.

Recent alcohol intake impacts microbiota in adult burn patients.

Alcohol use is associated with an increased incidence of negative health outcomes in burn patients due to biological mechanisms that include a dysregulated inflammatory response and increased intestinal permeability. This study used phosphatidylethanol (PEth) in blood, a direct biomarker of recent alcohol use, to investigate associations between a recent history of alcohol use and the fecal microbiota, short chain fatty acids, and inflammatory markers in the first week after a burn injury for nineteen participants. Burn patients were grouped according to PEth levels of low or high and differences in the overall fecal microbial community were observed between these cohorts. Two genera that contributed to the differences and had higher relative abundance in the low PEth burn patient group were Akkermansia, a mucin degrading bacteria that improves intestinal barrier function, and Bacteroides, a potentially anti-inflammatory bacteria. There was no statistically significant difference between levels of short chain fatty acids or intestinal permeability across the two groups. To our knowledge, this study represents the first report to evaluate the effects of burn injury and recent alcohol use on early post burn microbiota dysbiosis, inflammatory response, and levels of short chain fatty acids. Future studies in this field are warranted to better understand the factors associated with negative health outcomes and develop interventional trials.

Multimodal machine learning models identify chemotherapy drugs with prospective clinical efficacy in dogs with relapsed B-cell lymphoma.

Dogs with B-cell lymphoma typically respond well to first-line CHOP-based chemotherapy, but there is no standard of care for relapsed patients. To help veterinary oncologists select effective drugs for dogs with lymphoid malignancies such as B-cell lymphoma, we have developed multimodal machine learning models that integrate data from multiple tumor profiling modalities and predict the likelihood of a positive clinical response for 10 commonly used chemotherapy drugs. Here we report on clinical outcomes that occurred after oncologists received a prediction report generated by our models. Remarkably, we found that dogs that received drugs predicted to be effective by the models experienced better clinical outcomes by every metric we analyzed (overall response rate, complete response rate, duration of complete response, patient survival times) relative to other dogs in the study and relative to historical controls.

Outpatient surgery postoperative ambulation and emergency department utilization.

BACKGROUND: The ability to ambulate is an important indicator for wellness and quality of life. A major health event, such as a surgery, can derail this ability, and return to preoperative walking ability is a marker for recovery. Self-reported walking measurements by patients are subject to bias, thus wearable technology such as activity monitors have risen in popularity. We evaluated postoperative ambulation using an accelerometer in outpatient general surgery procedures with the hypothesis that those patients with less postoperative ambulation were at risk for adverse outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients undergoing outpatient abdominal surgeries from November 2016 to July 2019 at a Veteran Affairs Medical Center. Patients wore an accelerometer preoperatively and postoperatively to measure their ambulation (steps/day). Outcome measures were 30-day readmissions and Emergency Department (ED) utilization. Postoperative ambulation was defined as daily percentages of their preoperative baseline. Patients without preoperative baseline data, > 3 missing days or any missing days prior to reaching baseline were excluded. RESULTS: One-hundred-six patients underwent outpatient abdominal surgery. Twenty-two patients were excluded. Patients stratified into adult (18-64 years, 44 patients, 52%) and geriatric (≥ 65 years, 40 patients, 48%) cohorts. Geriatric patients were less likely to meet their preoperative baseline by postoperative day 7, 35% vs 61%, p = 0.016. Adult patients who failed to meet their preoperative baseline in first postoperative week had higher ED utilization; 4 (24%) vs 1 (4%), p = 0.04. Geriatric patients who failed to meet their baseline trended toward increased ED utilization; 5 (19%) vs. 1 (7%), p = 0.31. CONCLUSION: Patients aged < 65 who fail to return to their preoperative daily step count within one week of outpatient abdominal surgery are 6× more likely to be seen in the ED. Postoperative ambulation may be able to predict ED utilization and recovery after outpatient surgery.

Telehealth for general surgery postoperative care.

BACKGROUND: Telehealth utilization rapidly increased following the pandemic. However, it is not widely used in the Veteran surgical population. We sought to evaluate postoperative telehealth in patients undergoing general surgery. METHODS: Retrospective review of Veterans undergoing general surgery at a level 1A VA Medical Center from June 2019 to September 2021. Exclusions were concomitant procedure(s), discharge with drains or non-absorbable sutures/staples, complication prior to discharge or pathology positive for malignancy. RESULTS: 1075 patients underwent qualifying procedures, 124 (12 â€‹%) were excluded and 162 (17 â€‹%) did not have follow-up. 443 (56 â€‹%) patients followed-up in-person (56 â€‹%) vs 346 (44 â€‹%) via telehealth. Telehealth patients had a lower rate of complications, 6 â€‹% vs 12 â€‹%, p â€‹= â€‹0.013. There were no significant differences in ED visits, 30-day readmission, postoperative procedures or missed adverse events. CONCLUSION: Telehealth follow-up after general surgical procedures is safe and effective. Postoperative telehealth care should be considered after low-risk general surgery procedures.

Aging and intraocular pressure homeostasis in mice.

Age and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) are the two primary risk factors for glaucoma, an optic neuropathy that is the leading cause of irreversible blindness. In most people, IOP is tightly regulated over a lifetime by the conventional outflow tissues. However, the mechanistic contributions of age to conventional outflow dysregulation, elevated IOP and glaucoma are unknown. To address this gap in knowledge, we studied how age affects the morphology, biomechanical properties and function of conventional outflow tissues in C57BL/6 mice, which have an outflow system similar to humans. As reported in humans, we observed that IOP in mice was maintained within a tight range over their lifespan. Remarkably, despite a constellation of age-related changes to the conventional outflow tissues that would be expected to hinder aqueous drainage and impair homeostatic function (decreased cellularity, increased pigment accumulation, increased cellular senescence and increased stiffness), outflow facility, a measure of conventional outflow tissue fluid conductivity, was stable with age. We conclude that the murine conventional outflow system has significant functional reserve in healthy eyes. However, these age-related changes, when combined with other underlying factors, such as genetic susceptibility, are expected to increase risk for ocular hypertension and glaucoma.

Choroidal Changes in Rhesus Macaques in Aging and Age-Related Drusen.

Purpose: Choroidal vascular changes occur with normal aging and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Here, we evaluate choroidal thickness and vascularity in aged rhesus macaques to better understand the choroid's role in this nonhuman primate model of AMD. Methods: We analyzed optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of 244 eyes from 122 rhesus macaques (aged 4-32 years) to measure choroidal thickness (CT) and choroidal vascularity index (CVI). Drusen number, size, and volume were measured by semiautomated annotation and segmentation of OCT images. We performed regression analyses to determine any association of CT or CVI with age, sex, and axial length and to determine if the presence and volume of soft drusen impacted these choroidal parameters. Results: In rhesus macaques, subfoveal CT decreased with age at 3.2 µm/y (R2 = 0.481, P < 0.001), while CVI decreased at 0.66% per year (R2 = 0.257, P < 0.001). Eyes with soft drusen exhibited thicker choroid (179.9 ± 17.5 µm vs. 162.0 ± 27.9 µm, P < 0.001) and higher CVI (0.612 ± 0.051 vs. 0.577 ± 0.093, P = 0.005) than age-matched control animals. Neither CT or CVI appeared to be associated with drusen number, size, or volume in this cohort. However, some drusen in macaques were associated with underlying choroidal vessel enlargement resembling pachydrusen in human patients with AMD. Conclusions: Changes in the choroidal vasculature in rhesus macaques resemble choroidal changes in human aging, but eyes with drusen exhibit choroidal thickening, increased vascularity, and phenotypic characteristics of pachydrusen observed in some patients with AMD.

Losing weight to achieve joint or hernia surgery: is the intragastric balloon the answer?

BACKGROUND: Obesity is an epidemic, with its accompanying medical conditions putting patients at increased risk of postoperative complications. For patients undergoing elective surgery, preoperative weight loss provides an opportunity to decrease complications. We sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of an intragastric balloon in achieving a body mass index (BMI) < 35 kg/m2 prior to elective joint replacement or hernia repair. METHODS: Retrospective review of all patients who had intragastric balloon placement at a level 1A VA medical center from 1/2019 to 1/2023. Patients who had a scheduled qualifying procedure (knee/hip replacement or hernia repair) and had a BMI > 35 kg/m2 were offered intragastric balloon placement to achieve 30-50lbs (13-28 kg) weight loss prior to surgery. Participation in a standardized weight loss program for 12 months was required. Balloons were removed 6 months after placement, preferentially concomitant with the qualifying procedure. Baseline demographics, duration of balloon therapy, weight loss and progression to qualifying procedure were recorded. RESULTS: Twenty patients completed intragastric balloon therapy and had balloon removal. Mean age 54 (34-71 years), majority (95%) male. Mean balloon duration was 200 ± 37 days. Mean weight loss was 30.8 ± 17.7lbs (14.0 ± 8.0 kg) with an average BMI reduction of 4.4 ± 2.9. Seventeen (85%) patients were successful, 15 (75%) underwent elective surgery and 2 (10%) were no longer symptomatic after weight loss. Three patients (15%) did not lose sufficient weight to qualify or were too ill to undergo surgery. Nausea was the most frequent side effect. One (5%) patient was readmitted within 30 days for pneumonia. DISCUSSION: Intragastric balloon placement resulted in an average 30lbs (14 kg) weight loss over 6 months allowing more than 75% of patients to undergo joint replacement or hernia repair at an optimal weight. Intragastric balloons should be considered in patients requiring 30-50lbs (13-28 kg) weight loss prior to elective surgery. More study is needed to determine the long-term benefit of preoperative weight loss prior to elective surgery.

Telehealth Follow-Up After Inguinal Hernia Repair in Veterans.

INTRODUCTION: Telehealth has been increasingly utilized with a renewed interest by surgical specialties given the COIVD-19 pandemic. Limited data exists evaluating the safety of routine postoperative telehealth follow-up in patients undergoing inguinal hernia repair, especially those who present urgent/emergently. Our study sought to evaluate the safety and efficacy of postoperative telehealth follow-up in veterans undergoing inguinal hernia repair. METHODS: Retrospective review of all Veterans who underwent inguinal hernia repair at a tertiary Veterans Affairs Medical Center over a 2-year period (9/2019-9/2021). Outcome measures included postoperative complications, emergency department (ED) utilization, 30-day readmission, and missed adverse events (ED utilization or readmission occurring after routine postoperative follow-up). Patients undergoing additional procedure(s) requiring intraoperative drains and/or nonabsorbable sutures were excluded. RESULTS: Of 338 patients who underwent qualifying procedures, 156 (50.6%) were followed-up by telehealth and 152 (49.4%) followed-up in-person. There were no differences in age, sex, BMI, race, urgency, laterality nor admission status. Patients with higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification [ASA class III 92 (60.5%) versus class II 48 (31.6%), P = 0.019] and open repair [93 (61.2%) versus 67 (42.9%), P = 0.003] were more likely to follow-up in-person. There was no difference in complications, [telehealth 13 (8.3%) versus 20 (13.2%), P = 0.17], ED visits, [telehealth 15 (10%) versus 18 (12%), P = 0.53], 30-day readmission [telehealth 3 (2%) versus 0 (0%), P = 0.09], nor missed adverse events [telehealth 6 (33.3%) versus 5 (27.8%), P = 0.72]. CONCLUSIONS: There were no differences in postoperative complications, ED utilization, 30-day readmission, or missed adverse events for those who followed-up in person versus telehealth after elective or urgent/emergent inguinal hernia repair. Veterans with a higher ASA class and who underwent open repair were more likely to be seen in person. Telehealth follow-up after inguinal hernia repair is safe and effective.

Aberrant inflammatory responses in intoxicated burn-injured patients parallel impaired cognitive function.

Burn-injured patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) have increased morbidity and mortality compared to alcohol-abstaining individuals with similar injuries. It is hypothesized that this is due, in part, to alcohol-induced dysregulation of the systemic inflammatory response, leading to worsened clinical outcomes, including increased susceptibility to infection, and heightened cognitive impairment. To examine the effects of alcohol on inflammatory markers after burn injury, we used multiplex assays to measure a panel of 48 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in the plasma of burn patents within 24 h of admission to the University of Colorado Burn Center. Thirty patients were enrolled between July 2018 to February 2020 and were stratified based on presence of AUD and total body surface area (TBSA) burn of ≥20% into four groups: [AUD-, TBSA <20%, N = 12], [AUD+, TBSA <20%, N = 3], [AUD-, TBSA ≥20%, N = 8], [AUD+, TBSA ≥20%, N = 7]. In addition, Confusion Assessment Method (CAM) scores were collected to evaluate patient delirium during the course of hospitalization. Multivariate statistical analysis demonstrated a number of cytokines and other factors that were significantly different between the groups. For example, the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) was dampened in the AUD+, TBSA ≥20% cohort with a 75.2% decrease compared to AUD-, TBSA ≥20%, and an 83.9% decrease compared to AUD-, TBSA <20% (p = 0.008). Additionally, plasma levels of the pro-inflammatory mediator CXCL12 (C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12, also known as stromal cell-derived factor 1, SDF-1) was higher in the AUD + groups (p = 0.03) and similarly, IL-18 levels were greater in AUD+, TBSA ≥20% (p = 0.009). Eotaxin (also known as cytokine CC motif ligand 11, CCL11) was markedly elevated in the AUD+, TBSA ≥20% cohort with a 2.4-fold increase over the AUD-, TBSA ≥20%, and a 1.7-fold rise compared to the AUD-, TBSA <20% cohorts (p = 0.04). Interestingly, there was also a marked rise in CAM + delirium scores (85.7%) among the AUD + patients with TBSA ≥20% (p = 0.02). Not surprisingly, we found that hospital stays increased with AUD+ and larger burns (p = 0.0009). Our findings reveal that burn patients who misuse alcohol have aberrant inflammatory responses that may lead to greater immune dysregulation and worse clinical outcomes.

Telehealth follow-up after cholecystectomy is safe in veterans.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many challenges including barriers to delivering high-quality surgical care and follow-up while minimizing the risk of infection. Telehealth has been increasingly utilized for post-operative visits, yet little data exists to guide surgeons in its use. We sought to determine safety and efficacy of telehealth follow-up in patients undergoing cholecystectomy during the global pandemic at a VA Medical Center (VAMC). METHODS: This was a retrospective review of patients undergoing cholecystectomy at a level 1A VAMC over a 2-year period from August 2019 to August 2021. Baseline demographics, post-operative complications, readmissions, emergency department (ED) visits and need for additional procedures were reviewed. Patients who experienced a complication prior to discharge, underwent a concomitant procedure, had non-absorbable skin closure, had new diagnosis of malignancy or were discharged home with drain(s) were ineligible for telehealth follow-up and excluded. RESULTS: Over the study period, 179 patients underwent cholecystectomy; 30 (17%) were excluded as above. 20 (13%) missed their follow-up, 52 (35%) were seen via telehealth and 77 (52%) followed-up in person. There was no difference between the two groups regarding baseline demographics or intra-operative variables. There was no significant difference in post-operative complications [4 (8%) vs 6 (8%), p > 0.99], ED utilization [5 (10%) vs 7 (9%), p = 0.78], 30-day readmission [3 (6%) vs 6 (8%), p = 0.74] or need for additional procedures [2 (4%) vs 4 (5%), p = 0.41] between telehealth and in-person follow-up. CONCLUSION: Telehealth follow-up after cholecystectomy is safe and effective in Veterans. There were no differences in outcomes between patients that followed up in-person vs those that were seen via phone or video. Routine telehealth follow-up after uncomplicated cholecystectomy should be considered for all patients.

A dedicated feeding tube clinic reduces emergency department utilization for gastrostomy tube complications.

INTRODUCTION: Enteral access is required for a variety of reasons from neuromuscular disorders to dysphagia. Gastrostomy tubes (GTs) can be placed endoscopically, surgically, or radiographically and complications include infection, bleeding, leakage and unintentional removal. Routine post-procedural follow-up is limited by inconsistent guidelines and management by different specialty teams. We established a dedicated GT clinic to provide continuity of care and prophylactic GT exchange. We hypothesized that patients followed in the GT clinic would have reduced Emergency Department (ED) utilization. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent GT placement from January 2010 to January 2020 was conducted. Baseline demographics, indications for GT placement, number and reason for ED visits and utilization of a multidisciplinary GT clinic were studied. RESULTS: A total of 97 patients were included. The most common indication for placement was dysphagia (88, 91%) and the most common primary diagnosis was head and neck malignancy (51, 51%). The GT clinic is a multidisciplinary clinic staffed by surgeons and residents, dieticians, and wound care specialists and cared for 16 patients in this study. Three patients (19%) in the GT clinic group required ED visits compared to 44 (54%) in the standard of care (SOC) group (p < 0.05). There was an average of 0.9 ED visits per patient (range 0-7) in the GT clinic group vs 1.6 ED visits per patient (range 0-20) in the SOC group (p = 0.34). Feeding tubes were prophylactically exchanged an average of 7 times per patient in the GT clinic group vs 3 times per patient in the SOC group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: A multidisciplinary clinic dedicated to GT care limits ED visits for associated complications by more than 50%. Follow-up in a dedicated clinic with prophylactic tube exchange decreases ED visits and should be considered at facilities that care for patients with GTs.

Age and Injury Size Influence the Magnitude of Fecal Dysbiosis in Adult Burn Patients.

Clinical studies have demonstrated that age 50 years or older is an independent risk factor associated with poor prognosis after burn injury, the second leading cause of traumatic injuries in the aged population. While mechanisms driving age-dependent postburn mortality are perplexing, changes in the intestinal microbiome, may contribute to the heightened, dysregulated systemic response seen in aging burn patients. The fecal microbiome from 22 patients admitted to a verified burn center from July 2018 to February 2019 was stratified based on the age of 50 years and total burn surface area (TBSA) size of ≥10%. Significant differences (P = .014) in overall microbiota community composition (ie, beta diversity) were measured across the four patient groups: young <10% TBSA, young ≥10% TBSA, older <10% TBSA, and older ≥10% TBSA. Differences in beta diversity were driven by %TBSA (P = .013) and trended with age (P = .087). Alpha diversity components, richness, evenness, and Shannon diversity were measured. We observed significant differences in bacterial species evenness (P = .0023) and Shannon diversity (P = .0033) between the groups. There were significant correlations between individual bacterial species and levels of short-chain fatty acids. Specifically, levels of fecal butyrate correlated with the presence of Enterobacteriaceae, an opportunistic gut pathogen, when elevated in burn patients lead to worsen outcomes. Overall, our findings reveal that age-specific changes in the fecal microbiome following burn injuries may contribute to immune system dysregulation in patients with varying TBSA burns and potentially lead to worsened clinical outcomes with heightened morbidity and mortality.

Risk stratification of parotid neoplasms based on intraoperative frozen section and preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology.

PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the relationship of frozen section (FS) to final histology and determine how incorporating FS may change preoperative malignancy risk estimates based on preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC). The secondary aim is to determine if FS is useful in influencing intraoperative decision-making. METHODS: Retrospective review of 426 intraoperative FS for parotidectomies performed for primary parotid lesions. RESULTS: Risk of malignancy with a benign FS was 2.5%, with indeterminate 36.1%, and with malignant 100%. Incorporating FS to fine needle aspiration for cytology helped to stratify malignancy risk especially in the Milan categories of atypia of undetermined significance, neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential and non-diagnostic categories, where a malignant FS increased malignancy risk significantly. FS was only able to identify 11% of high-risk histological subtypes for which a neck dissection would be recommended. CONCLUSIONS: FS may be used to stratify malignancy risk intraoperatively but has limited utility in clinical decision-making to perform a neck dissection and more extensive parotid resection in high-risk histological subtypes.

Open-source deep learning-based automatic segmentation of mouse Schlemm's canal in optical coherence tomography images.

The purpose of this study was to develop an automatic deep learning-based approach and corresponding free, open-source software to perform segmentation of the Schlemm's canal (SC) lumen in optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans of living mouse eyes. A novel convolutional neural network (CNN) for semantic segmentation grounded in a U-Net architecture was developed by incorporating a late fusion scheme, multi-scale input image pyramid, dilated residual convolution blocks, and attention-gating. 163 pairs of intensity and speckle variance (SV) OCT B-scans acquired from 32 living mouse eyes were used for training, validation, and testing of this CNN model for segmentation of the SC lumen. The proposed model achieved a mean Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) of 0.694 ± 0.256 and median DSC of 0.791, while manual segmentation performed by a second expert grader achieved a mean and median DSC of 0.713 ± 0.209 and 0.763, respectively. This work presents the first automatic method for segmentation of the SC lumen in OCT images of living mouse eyes. The performance of the proposed model is comparable to the performance of a second human grader. Open-source automatic software for segmentation of the SC lumen is expected to accelerate experiments for studying treatment efficacy of new drugs affecting intraocular pressure and related diseases such as glaucoma, which present as changes in the SC area.

Risk stratification of fine-needle aspiration cytology of parotid neoplasms based on the Milan system-Experience from a tertiary center in Asia.

BACKGROUND: The recently described Milan system provides a unified way of categorizing salivary gland fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytology. We aim to use this system to stratify risk of malignancy in parotid FNAs. METHODS: In this retrospective case series, 376 FNAs were preoperatively performed for 573 parotidectomies over 14 years. RESULTS: Risk of malignancy on FNA is as follows: nondiagnostic 14.5%, non-neoplastic 26.7%, atypia of undetermined significance 29.3%, benign neoplasm 2.7%, neoplasm of uncertain malignant potential 19.1%, suspicious for malignancy 87.5%, and malignant 100%. The specific diagnoses of pleomorphic adenoma and Warthin tumor on FNA have high positive predictive value of 97.5% and 96.6%, respectively. Multivariate regression associates smaller size of lesion with a nondiagnostic or indeterminate result. Seniority of operator is associated with a lower likelihood of a nondiagnostic result. CONCLUSIONS: This large Asian series validates the Milan system as a valuable tool in stratifying malignancy risk of parotid FNAs.

Metronomic administration of lomustine following palliative radiation therapy for appendicular osteosarcoma in dogs.

The purpose of this study was to determine if metronomic administration of lomustine following palliative radiation therapy (RT) improved length of palliation and therefore survival in dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma compared to treatment with palliative radiation alone. A search of medical records identified dogs with appendicular osteosarcoma, treated with palliative RT (2 fractions of 8 Gray in a 24 hour time frame, day 0 and day 1; or day 0, 6 hours apart). Data collected included signalment, history, clinical signs, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic abnormalities, extent of disease, response, toxicity, other therapy, survival time, and whether dogs received metronomic lomustine (ML) or not. Of 86 patients, 43 received ML while 43 did not. Median survival time (MST) was not significantly different (P = 0.84), at 184 +/- 17 days for patients which received ML, and 154 +/- 20 days for those which did not. Metronomic lomustine administration was well-tolerated, but it did not improve survival in dogs with palliatively treated osteosarcoma.

Administration métronomique de lomustine après radiothérapie palliative pour le traitement des ostéosarcomes appendiculaires chez le chien. L'objectif de cette étude était de déterminer si l'administration métronomique de lomustine après radiothérapie palliative (RT) améliore la durée de palliation, et par conséquent la durée de vie, des chiens atteints d'ostéosarcome appendiculaire, en comparaison avec la radiothérapie seule. Les dossiers médicaux des chiens atteints d'ostéosarcome appendiculaire traités par radiothérapie palliative (2 fractions de 8 Gray dans un intervalle de 24 heures, jour 0 et jour 1; ou jour 0, à 6 heures d'intervalle) ont été identifiés et évalués. Les données collectées incluaient l'anamnèse, les commémoratifs, les anomalies de l'examen clinique et des analyses de laboratoires, les résultats du bilan d'extension, la réponse au(x) traitement(s), le développement de toxicités, d'éventuelles autres thérapies prodiguées, la durée de vie et si les chiens avaient été traités avec de la lomustine ou non. Sur 86 patients, 43 ont reçu de la lomustine tandis que 43 n'en ont pas reçu. La médiane de survie (MST) n'était pas significativement différente (P = 0.84), 184 +/− 17 jours pour les patients traités avec de la lomustine, et 154 +/− 20 jours pour ceux n'ayant pas reçu de lomustine. L'administration métronomique de lomustine était bien tolérée mais ne prodigua pas d'amélioration de la durée de vie lors de la prise en charge palliative des chiens atteints d'ostéosarcome.(Traduit par les auteurs).