Publications by authors named "Alexis M"

Popular video-sharing platforms YouTube and TikTok offer a plethora of information on the topic of breast implant illness (BII). As a largely patient-driven phenomenon, it is important to understand the influence of social media on patient knowledge regarding BII. This study sought to evaluate the quality, reliability, visibility, and popularity of YouTube and TikTok videos about BII.

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Purpose: The use of inotuzumab ozogamicin (InO), a conjugated anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody, is becoming a promising frontline treatment for older patients with ALL.

Patients And Methods: EWALL-INO is an open-label prospective multicenter phase II trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03249870).

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While evolution is often considered from a DNA- and protein-centric view, RNA-based regulation can also impact gene expression and protein sequences. Here we examine interspecies differences in RNA-protein interactions using the conserved neuronal RNA-binding protein, Unkempt (UNK) as model. We find that roughly half of mRNAs bound in human are also bound in mouse.

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  • PFAPA syndrome is a common cause of recurrent fever in children that affects their quality of life; the study aims to evaluate the impact of partial tonsillectomy compared to total tonsillectomy on symptoms.
  • In a study of 36 children, partial tonsillectomy led to a significant reduction of 10 fever episodes per year, with some patients requiring totalization but no major complications reported.
  • Although partial tonsillectomy was less effective than total tonsillectomy, it provided a reduction in symptoms with fewer complications, making it a viable option while waiting for remission as children grow older.
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Fewer than one-fifth of all studies on gender-affirming care originate from low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This is the first systematic review to examine surgical demographics and outcomes following gender-affirming surgery (GAS) in LMICs. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, five databases were systematically searched for original studies and case series on GAS within LMIC settings.

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While evolution is often considered from a DNA- and protein-centric view, RNA-based regulation can also impact gene expression and protein sequences. Here we examined interspecies differences in RNA-protein interactions using the conserved neuronal RNA binding protein, Unkempt (UNK) as model. We find that roughly half of mRNAs bound in human are also bound in mouse.

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Objective: Thyroid nodules are common, yet fewer than 1 in 10 harbors malignancy. When present, thyroid cancer is typically indolent with excellent survival. Therefore, patients who are not candidates for thyroid cancer treatment due to comorbid disease may not require further thyroid nodule evaluation.

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  • - The phase II trial assessed the effectiveness of the RiBVD treatment (rituximab, bendamustine, velcade, and dexamethasone) in patients over 65 with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), which resulted in a median progression-free survival of 79 months and overall survival of 111 months.
  • - TP53 mutation status and albumin levels were identified as significant prognostic factors, with TP53 mutations linked to a higher risk of shorter progression-free survival and overall survival in the analyzed patient population.
  • - A scoring system combining TP53 mutation status and albumin levels allowed differentiation of patient outcomes, indicating varying survival rates based on the presence of these factors, thus enhancing prognostic assessments
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This study aimed to provide comparative anatomical data on the mitral valve and to substantiate the choice between large species for pre-clinical testing of cardiac devices. Different anatomical parameters of the anterior and posterior leaflets, chordae and papillary muscles were measured to characterize the anatomy of the mitral valve in 10 individuals for each four species. Ratios were calculated and used to circumvent the interspecies variations of body and heart size and weight.

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Background: Anterior skull base fractures represent a unique challenge for neurosurgical repair due to the potential for orbital injury and the proximity to the air sinuses, yielding increased possibility for infection, and persistent cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. While multiple techniques are available for the repair of anterior skull base defects, there exists a paucity of robust, long-term clinical data to guide the optimal surgical management of these fractures.

Case Description: We present the case of a complex, traumatic penetrating anterior skull base fracture, and describe a multi-layered approach for successful repair - namely, with the use of a temporally-based pericranial flap, split-thickness frontal bone graft, and autogenous abdominal fat graft.

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Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is the treatment of choice for early-stage estrogen receptor alpha (ERα)-positive breast cancer (BC). However, almost 40% of tamoxifen-treated cases display no response or a partial response to AET, thus increasing the need for new treatment options and strong predictors of the therapeutic response of patients at high risk of relapse. In addition to ERα, BC research has focused on ERβ1 and ERβ2 (isoforms of ERβ), the second ER isotype.

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  • Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF) is a traditional surgery for degenerative spine issues, known for restoring spinal structures but carries risks of severe injuries to surrounding organs and blood vessels.
  • *Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF) is a less invasive alternative but has limitations due to its narrow surgical area and requires repositioning the patient for combined procedures.
  • *A new technique combines ALIF and LLIF in one stage with the patient in a lateral position, utilizing a fluoroscopy-based instrument tracking system to enhance surgical precision and reduce reliance on imaging, as demonstrated in a case study of a patient with chronic back pain.
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Right ventricular clot-in-transit (CIT) is a rare finding in venous thromboembolic disease and carries a high mortality rate. Its optimal treatments have yet to be established in the literature. Here we describe the usage of a suction-based catheter, the INARI FlowTriever® system (INARI Medical Inc.

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Background: Intraoperative hypotension (IOH) has been found to be associated with organ damage, including cardiac injury and acute kidney injury (AKI). However, to our knowledge, this relationship has not been studied in a neurosurgery-specific patient population. In this report, we review our institutional experience to understand the magnitude of association between IOH in spinal fusion operations and incidence of postoperative AKI.

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  • The study aimed to compare the anatomical presentation and severity of colonic diverticulosis between African Caribbeans (AC) and Europeans (E) in a controlled study involving 274 patients with lower gastrointestinal hemorrhage in France.
  • Results showed that AC patients had consistently poorer hemodynamic conditions and required more blood transfusions compared to E patients, with AC exhibiting a higher prevalence of pancolonic diverticulosis while E had left-sided diverticulosis.
  • The findings suggest that genetic factors may play a larger role in the anatomical differences observed in diverticulosis between the two groups, rather than environmental influences or dietary habits.
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Background: Rigid fixation using a three-point skull clamp is a common practice during cranial surgery. Despite its frequency of use, rigid fixation is not without risk of complications including hemodynamic changes, skull fractures and venous thromboembolism. Given this, alternative head fixation should be considered when clinically appropriate.

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Study Hypothesis/objective: This prospective cohort study aimed to assess whether and to what extent different quantitative pupillometry (QP) metrics are associated with different intoxicant drug classes as well as investigate the potential benefit of QP as a tool in the rapid assessment of clinically intoxicated patients in the emergency department (ED).

Methods: Between February 25, 2019 and April 24, 2021, 325 patients were enrolled in the EDs of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center (PPMC). Patients deemed clinically intoxicated or in withdrawal by an attending emergency physician were considered for eligibility.

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Introduction: Flexible endoscopic procedures (FEP) using a working channel allowed otolaryngologists to perform more procedures on the pharynx and the larynx under local anesthesia. The purpose of this work is to demonstrate the feasibility and safety of this technique by studying the adverse effects of this practice in an office-based setting.

Methods: This is a monocentric retrospective cohort study.

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  • Blinatumomab is a bispecific T-cell engager used for treating B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in patients who have minimal residual disease (MRD) or are in relapse, with a study analyzing 73 patients receiving this treatment.
  • The results showed that high pre-treatment MRD levels correlated with poorer outcomes, specifically shorter relapse-free survival and overall survival rates.
  • The study suggests that understanding tumor burden prior to treatment could lead to more personalized strategies for managing relapsed patients, highlighting the importance of MRD levels in treatment planning.
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Purpose: The prospective, randomized AHL2011 trial demonstrated that the use of the doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine regimen (ABVD) after two cycles of bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP) in early responders on the basis of a positron emission tomography (PET)-driven strategy was safe and minimized toxicity compared with standard 6 BEACOPP cycles. This substudy investigated the benefit of this strategy in gonadal function and fertility in patients under 45 years old.

Methods: Ovarian function was assessed by serum measurement of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, and anti-müllerian hormone in women, and semen analysis, FSH, and testosterone levels were used to evaluate testicular function in men at baseline, end of treatment, and during 5 years of follow-up.

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The brominated flame retardants (BFRs), 1,2-dibromo-4-(1,2 dibromoethyl)cyclohexane (TBECH) and 2,3-dibromopropyl-2,4,6-tribromophenyl ether (DPTE) bind to the androgen receptor (AR). in vitro bioassays have shown that TBECH is a potent androgen agonist while DPTE is a potent AR antagonist. Both TBECH and DPTE alter gene expression associated with AR regulation.

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In this randomized phase 3 study, the FILO group tested whether the addition of 6 mg/m of gemtuzumab ozogamycin (GO) to standard chemotherapy could improve outcome of younger patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and intermediate-risk cytogenetics. GO arm was prematurely closed after 254 inclusions because of toxicity. A similar complete remission rate was observed in both arms.

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  • - The SPIRIT trial is a long-term study that compares the effectiveness of various treatments for chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), involving 787 patients followed for an average of 13.5 years.
  • - Overall and progression-free survival rates after 15 years were similar across four treatment groups, ranging from 80% to 87%, suggesting comparable effectiveness of different combinations.
  • - The combination of imatinib with pegylated interferon alpha2a resulted in significantly better molecular response rates compared to imatinib alone, although toxicity led to treatment cessation for some patients.
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