Neoadjuvant immune checkpoint inhibitors for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of liver cancer. HCC treatment is challenging; surgical resection is the primary curative treatment for early-stage disease, but recurrence rates are high. Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are a promising neoadjuvant treatment that can reduce recurrence rates and mortality after surgery and achieve complete/partial responses.

Successful posthospitalisation oncology workflow implementing LACE+ score to stratify and reduce readmissions within a safety-net hospital.

Background: Patients with advanced cancers visit the emergency room and get hospitalised frequently, with potentially half of these visits being avoidable. Our institution provides comprehensive, low-cost cancer treatment to a safety-net population in Texas. We performed a retrospective review of hospital readmission patterns amongst our oncology patients and developed a posthospitalisation workflow to reduce readmissions.

Leveraging experimental and computational tools for advancing carbon capture adsorbents research.

CO emissions have been steadily increasing and have been a major contributor for climate change compelling nations to take decisive action fast. The average global temperature could reach 1.5 °C by 2035 which could cause a significant impact on the environment, if the emissions are left unchecked.

Recent developments on advanced oxidation processes for degradation of pollutants from wastewater with focus on antibiotics and organic dyes.

The existence of various pollutants in water environment contributes to global pollution and poses significant threats to humans, wildlife, and other living beings. The emergence of an effective, realistic, cost-effective, and environmentally acceptable technique to treat wastewater generated from different sectors is critical for reducing pollutant accumulation in the environment. The electrochemical advanced oxidation method is a productive technology for treating hazardous effluents because of its potential benefits such as lack of secondary pollutant and high oxidation efficiency.

Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy: Are we clutching at straws?

Introduction: The available treatment options for patients with drug or treatment-resistant psychiatric disorders are limited. Maintenance electroconvulsive therapy (M-ECT) is an established option, but the literature available is limited. This study examined the utilization of M-ECT in a large tertiary care psychiatric facility, and its correlates with the socio-demographic and clinical profile of patients.

Adverse short- and long-term outcomes among infants with mild neonatal encephalopathy.

Background: Studies in newborns with mild neonatal encephalopathy (mNE) demonstrated normal outcomes, but recent literature suggests otherwise.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study examined inborn infants between 2014 and 2017. Biochemical and clinical characteristics determined the presence of NE and an encephalopathy score categorized infants as Definite or Possible mNE.

Medication Order Errors at Hospital Admission Among Children With Medical Complexity.

Objectives: We sought to characterize the nature and prevalence of medication order errors (MOEs) occurring at hospital admission for children with medical complexity (CMC), as well as identify the demographic and clinical risk factors for CMC experiencing MOEs.

Methods: Prospective cohort study of 1233 hospitalizations for CMC from November 1, 2015, to October 31, 2016, at 2 children's hospitals. Medication order errors at admission were identified prospectively by nurse practitioners and a pharmacist through direct patient care.

Neonatal transport in California: findings from a qualitative investigation.

Objective: To identify characteristics of neonatal transport in California and which factors influence team performance.

Study Design: We led focus group discussions with 19 transport teams operating in California, interviewing 158 neonatal transport team members. Transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis approach.

Prenatal treatment of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.

Purpose Of Study: Patients with neonatal urea cycle defects (UCDs) typically experience severe hyperammonemia during the first days of life, which results in serious neurological injury or death. Long-term prognosis despite optimal pharmacological and dietary therapy is still poor. The combination of intravenous sodium phenylacetate and sodium benzoate (Ammonul®) can eliminate nitrogen waste independent of the urea cycle.

Characteristics of neonatal transports in California.

Objective: To describe the current scope of neonatal inter-facility transports.

Study Design: California databases were used to characterize infants transported in the first week after birth from 2009 to 2012.

Results: Transport of the 22 550 neonates was classified as emergent 9383 (41.

Right Ventricle before and after Atrial Septal Defect Device Closure.

Background: Percutaneous atrial septal defect (ASD) device closure is a safe and effective means of reducing or eliminating interatrial shunting. The response of the right heart to device closure is incompletely understood.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of transcatheter closure of secundum ASD on right ventricle size and function, that is, both systolic and diastolic by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) over a 6-month period.

Characterization of forced degradation products and in silico toxicity prediction of Sofosbuvir: A novel HCV NS5B polymerase inhibitor.

Sofosbuvir is a direct acting antiviral medication used to treat Hepatitis C viral infection. The present study focuses on the degradation behavior of the drug under various stress conditions (hydrolysis, oxidative, thermal and photolytic) as per International Conference on Harmonization (ICH Q1A (R2)) guidelines. A high performance liquid chromatographic system (HPLC) was used to develop a selective, precise and accurate method for separating all the degradation products.

Real Time 3D Echocardiographic Evaluation of Iatrogenic Atrial Septal Defects After Percutaneous Transvenous Mitral Commissurotomy.

Introduction: Percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomy (PTMC) is a safe and effective procedure for relief of severe mitral stenosis. PTMC is being done widely and many transseptal procedures requiring large diameter catheters, sheaths are becoming popular. The knowledge of iatrogenic atrial septal defect (iASD) is vital.

Predictive Value of D-Dimer Levels and Tissue Doppler Mitral Annular Systolic Velocity for Detection of Left Atrial Appendage Thrombus in Patients with Mitral Stenosis in Sinus Rhythm.

Background: Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is a gold standard test for diagnosis of left atrial (LA) thrombus, but it has limited sensitivity for identification of small thrombi within side lobes. Thus, the absence of visualizing a left atrial appendage (LAA) thrombus does not equate with the absence of a LAA thrombus.

Aim: To assess the predictive value of mitral annular systolic velocity (Sa) and D-dimer for the detection of LA thrombus and spontaneous echocardiographic contrast (SEC) in mitral stenosis (MS) patients with sinus rhythm (SR).

A randomized clinical trial of therapeutic hypothermia mode during transport for neonatal encephalopathy.

Objective: To determine if temperature regulation is improved during neonatal transport using a servo-regulated cooling device when compared with standard practice.

Study Design: We performed a multicenter, randomized, nonmasked clinical trial in newborns with neonatal encephalopathy cooled during transport to 9 neonatal intensive care units in California. Newborns who met institutional criteria for therapeutic hypothermia were randomly assigned to receive cooling according to usual center practices vs device servo-regulated cooling.

Therapeutic hypothermia during neonatal transport: data from the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative (CPQCC) and California Perinatal Transport System (CPeTS) for 2010.

Objective: To evaluate cooling practices and neonatal outcomes in the state of California during 2010 using the California Perinatal Quality Care Collaborative and California Perinatal Transport System databases.

Study Design: Database analysis to determine the perinatal and neonatal demographics and outcomes of neonates cooled in transport or after admission to a cooling center.

Result: Of the 223 infants receiving therapeutic hypothermia for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in California during 2010, 69% were cooled during transport.

Therapeutic hypothermia during neonatal transport: current practices in California.

Therapeutic hypothermia initiated at <6 hours of age reduces death and disability in newborns ≥ 36 weeks' gestation with moderate to severe hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Given the limited therapeutic window, cooling during transport becomes a necessity. Our goal was to describe the current practice of therapeutic hypothermia during transport used in the state of California.