Clinical Correlates of Efficacy of Pyridostigmine in the Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension.

Background: The cholinesterase inhibitor pyridostigmine is used to treat orthostatic hypotension by facilitating cholinergic neurotransmission in autonomic ganglia, thereby harnessing residual sympathetic tone to increase blood pressure (BP) preferentially in the upright posture. We hypothesized that less severe autonomic impairment was associated with greater pressor responses to pyridostigmine.

Methods: To identify predictors of pressor response, linear regression analyses between the effect of pyridostigmine on upright BP and markers of autonomic impairment were retrospectively conducted on 38 patients who had a medication trial with pyridostigmine (60 mg single dose).

Efficacy and safety of fully covered self-expanding metal stents in the management of Post sphincterotomy bleeding: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background And Aims: Fully covered self-expandable metallic stents (FCSEMS) are often used in the management of post-sphincterotomy bleeding which is refractory to conventional endoscopic treatments. In this meta-analysis, we have evaluated the efficacy and safety of FCSEMS in the management of post-sphincterotomy bleeding.

Methods: We reviewed several databases from inception to November 6, 2024 to identify studies that evaluated the efficacy, and/or safety of FCSEMS in the management of post sphincterotomy bleeding.

Blood volume deficit in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome assessed by semiautomated carbon monoxide rebreathing.

Purpose: The semiautomated carbon monoxide (CO) rebreathing method has been introduced as a noninvasive and radiation-free blood volume estimation method. We tested whether the semiautomated CO rebreathing method can detect the blood volume deficit in postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). In addition, we explored the relationship between blood volume estimated from CO rebreathing and body impedance.

Short-Course TNT Improves Rectal Tumor Downstaging in a Retrospective Study of the US Rectal Cancer Consortium.

Background And Objectives: The RAPIDO trial showed promising rates of pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant short-course radiation with consolidation chemotherapy (total neoadjuvant therapy [SC TNT]) for rectal cancer. Only single-center reviews comparing tumor downstaging between SC TNT and long-course chemoradiation (LCRT) have been published in the United States. We reviewed our multi-institutional experience with both.