Three-dimensional characterization of sex differences in abdominal aortic aneurysm progression via vascular deformation mapping.

Although abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are more common in men, women are at greater risk for AAA growth/rupture. Vascular deformation mapping (VDM) utilizes deformable image registration to qualify and quantify 3D-AAA growth using computed tomography angiograms (CTA). In this study we leveraged VDM to investigate sex differences in AAA growth patterns.

Medicaid Insurance Predicts Increased Postoperative Care Encounters Among Patients on Long-Term Opioid Therapy.

Objective: This study examined the association between insurance type and postoperative unplanned care encounters among patients on long-term opioid therapy prior to surgery.

Summary Background Data: Preoperative long-term opioid therapy is associated with unique risks and poorer outcomes following surgery. To date, the extent to which insurance coverage influences postoperative outcomes in this population remains unclear.

Acute type A intramural hematoma: The less-deadly acute aortic syndrome?

Objective: To evaluate the short- and midterm outcomes of surgically managed acute type A intramural hematoma (IMH) versus classic acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD).

Methods: From 1996 to February 2023, a total of 106 patients with acute type A IMH and 795 patients with classic ATAAD presented for open aortic repair at our institution. Data were obtained from the local Society of Thoracic Surgeons' Data Warehouse and medical chart review.

Financial model for a transitional pain service at a large tertiary academic center in the USA.

Approximately 1 in 10 patients undergoing surgery is considered at high risk for poor pain and opioid-related outcomes due to chronic pain or persistent opioid use prior to surgery, leading to increased hospital lengths of stay, emergency department visits, hospital readmissions, and worse long-term outcomes. Multidisciplinary transitional pain services (TPSs) have been shown to effectively identify and optimize high-risk patients before surgery, leading to a reduction in healthcare utilization. We conducted a series of semistructured interviews, a literature search, and a financial analysis to develop a reproducible business case for establishing a TPS.

Increased Variation in Esophageal Cancer Treatment and Geographic Healthcare Disparity in Michigan.

Background: Regional variation in complex healthcare is shown to negatively impact health outcomes. We sought to characterize geographic variance in esophageal cancer operation in Michigan.

Study Design: Data for patients with locoregional esophageal cancer from the Michigan Cancer Surveillance Program from 2000 to 2013 was analyzed.

Effects of MYBPC3 loss-of-function mutations preceding hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Mutations in cardiac myosin binding protein C (MyBP-C, encoded by MYBPC3) are the most common cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). Most MYBPC3 mutations result in premature termination codons (PTCs) that cause RNA degradation and a reduction of MyBP-C in HCM patient hearts. However, a reduction in MyBP-C has not been consistently observed in MYBPC3-mutant induced pluripotent stem cell cardiomyocytes (iPSCMs).