Association of Reduced Hospitalizations and Mortality Rates Among COVID-19-Vaccinated Patients With Heart Failure.

Background: Patients with heart failure (HF) are at high risk for adverse outcomes when they have COVID-19. Reports of COVID-19 vaccine-related cardiac complications may contribute to vaccine hesitancy in patients with HF.

Methods: To analyze the impact of COVID-19 vaccine status on clinical outcomes in patients with HF, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of the association of COVID-19 vaccination status with hospitalizations, intensive care unit admission and mortality after adjustment for covariates.

Patients Report Infrequent Counseling by Physicians and Inadequate Knowledge about Inflammatory Bowel Disease and Reproductive Health Issues.

Objective: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) reproductive health counseling is associated with higher knowledge, lower voluntary childlessness, greater medication adherence during pregnancy, and improved outcomes of pregnancy. Our aims were to assess counseling and knowledge about IBD and reproductive health in a tertiary care IBD patient population.

Study Design: We anonymously surveyed women and men ages 18 to 45 cared for at the Stanford IBD clinic about reproductive health and administered the CCPKnow questionnaire.

Physical Performance and Risk of Postoperative Delirium in Older Adults Undergoing Aortic Valve Replacement.

Background: Delirium is a major risk factor for poor recovery after surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). It is unclear whether preoperative physical performance tests improve delirium prediction.

Objective: To examine whether physical performance tests can predict delirium after SAVR and TAVR, and adapt an existing delirium prediction rule for cardiac surgery, which includes Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), depression, prior stroke, and albumin level.

Declining Use of Primary Care Among Commercially Insured Adults in the United States, 2008-2016.

Background: Primary care is known to improve outcomes and lower health care costs, prompting recent U.S. policy efforts to expand its role.

Trends in Pediatric Primary Care Visits Among Commercially Insured US Children, 2008-2016.

Importance: Primary care is the foundation of pediatric care. While policy interventions have focused on improving access and quality of primary care, trends in overall use of primary care among children have not been described.

Objective: To assess trends in primary care visit rates and out-of-pocket costs, to examine variation in these trends by patient and visit characteristics, and to assess shifts to alternative care options (eg, retail clinics, urgent care, and telemedicine).

National Trends in Primary Care Visit Use and Practice Capabilities, 2008-2015.

Purpose: Recent evidence shows a national decline in primary care visit rates over the last decade. It is unclear how changes in practice-including the use and content of primary care visits-may have contributed.

Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data of adult visits to primary care physicians (PCPs) and physician practice characteristics from 2007-2016 (National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey).

Large Sessile Serrated Polyps Can Be Safely and Effectively Removed by Endoscopic Mucosal Resection.

Background & Aims: As many as 50% of large sessile serrated adenomas/polyps (SSPs) are removed incompletely, which is significant because SSPs have been implicated in the development of interval cancers. It is unclear if endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) is an optimal method for removal of SSPs. We assessed the efficacy and safety of removal of SSPs 10 mm and larger using a standardized inject-and-cut EMR technique.

Migration of implanted markers for image-guided lung tumor stereotactic ablative radiotherapy.

The purpose of this study was to quantify postimplantation migration of percutaneously implanted cylindrical gold seeds ("seeds") and platinum endovascular embolization coils ("coils") for tumor tracking in pulmonary stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). We retrospectively analyzed the migration of markers in 32 consecutive patients with computed tomography scans postimplantation and at simulation. We implanted 147 markers (59 seeds, 88 coils) in or around 34 pulmonary tumors over 32 procedures, with one lesion implanted twice.

Tumor volume-adapted dosing in stereotactic ablative radiotherapy of lung tumors.

Purpose: Current stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) protocols for lung tumors prescribe a uniform dose regimen irrespective of tumor size. We report the outcomes of a lung tumor volume-adapted SABR dosing strategy.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively reviewed the outcomes in 111 patients with a total of 138 primary or metastatic lung tumors treated by SABR, including local control, regional control, distant metastasis, overall survival, and treatment toxicity.

High retention and safety of percutaneously implanted endovascular embolization coils as fiducial markers for image-guided stereotactic ablative radiotherapy of pulmonary tumors.

Purpose: To compare the retention rates of two types of implanted fiducial markers for stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR) of pulmonary tumors, smooth cylindrical gold "seed" markers ("seeds") and platinum endovascular embolization coils ("coils"), and to compare the complication rates associated with the respective implantation procedures.

Methods And Materials: We retrospectively analyzed the retention of percutaneously implanted markers in 54 consecutive patients between January 2004 and June 2009. A total of 270 markers (129 seeds, 141 coils) were implanted in or around 60 pulmonary tumors over 59 procedures.