Outcomes among patients with coronary artery bypass grafts presenting with acute coronary syndrome: impact of revascularization.

Background: Patients post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) can re-present with acute coronary syndrome (ACS); however, culprit lesion identification, as well as revascularization, is often challenging. Furthermore, the impact of revascularization in this patient group is relatively unknown.

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with previous CABG surgery presenting with ACS.

Impact of insurance on outcomes of patients undergoing endoscopic transsphenoidal surgery for non-functional pituitary adenomas: a single institution study.

Purpose: Uninsured and underinsured patients face notable healthcare disparities in neurosurgery, but limited literature exists on the impact of insurance on non-functioning pituitary adenomas (NFPAs). We investigated how insurance affects outcomes of endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary surgery (ETPS) for NFPAs.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed NFPA patients who underwent ETPS at our institution from 2012 to 2023.

The Safety and Late Hemodynamics of Donor Cardiac Undersizing in Heart Transplantation.

Background: Predicted heart mass ratio (PHMr) has become the standard donor-recipient size matching method in heart transplantation. While utilization of small PHMr hearts is associated with increased one-year mortality, the underlying mechanisms and time horizon of mortality remain uncertain.

Methods: A single institution analysis of isolated heart transplant recipients (01/2019-7/2022) was performed (N=334).

Rejection in the setting of combined Heart and Liver Transplantation.

Introduction: Each year the number of combined heart-liver transplants (HLT) increases, with two distinct patient populations proceeding down this pathway. The first are patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), most commonly single ventricle patients palliated with Fontan. The second group are those with long standing congestive hepatopathy, amyloidosis, hemochromatosis, or alcohol induced myopathies and liver disease.

COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among caregivers of children under five years old in a pediatric emergency department.

Objective: Children under five years old have a high rate of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) infection, yet rates of vaccination are relatively low. Our qualitative study investigated reasons why caregivers of children ages six months to four years old may be hesitant to vaccinate their children against COVID-19.

Study Design: Qualitative study.

Predicting Extent of Opioid Use Following Cardiac Surgery: A Pilot Study.

Objectives: This study was designed to test whether a negative affect phenotype reflecting depression, anxiety, anger, and pain catastrophizing predicts inpatient and outpatient opioid use outcomes following cardiac surgery.

Design: In a single-center prospective observational pilot study, the authors obtained validated measures of negative affect and opioid-related phenotype preoperatively and collected opioid use and opioid misuse-related outcomes at 30-day postoperative follow-up.

Setting: Quaternary medical center.

Novel Dynamic Organ Storage System Enhances Liver Graft Function in a Porcine Donation After Circulatory Death Model.

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) livers face increased risks of critical complications when preserved with static cold storage (SCS). Although machine perfusion (MP) may mitigate these risks, its cost and logistical complexity limit widespread application. We developed the Dynamic Organ Storage System (DOSS), which delivers oxygenated perfusate at 10°C with minimal electrical power requirement and allows real-time effluent sampling in a portable cooler.

The 100 most impactful articles in foot and ankle surgery: An altmetric analysis.

Citation count and impact factor of the publishing journal are two historically utilized metrics to determine an article's impact in its research field. However, these metrics are limited given the rise in research dissemination through social media. Across other orthopedic specialties, the Altmetric Attention Score (AAS) has been used to determine which articles are most impactful.

The learning curve and outcomes of 1038 endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal pituitary tumor surgeries - A single surgical team experience.

Background: Pituitary adenomas rank third among adult intracranial tumors, with an incidence of 3.9- 7.4 cases/per 100,000 annually.

Evolution in the Use of Statistical Testing in the Field of Orthopedics From 1993 to 2023.

Statistical tests are important tools in research as they provide a systematic and objective approach to analyzing data, testing hypotheses, and drawing conclusions. We investigated the application of statistical tests used in articles published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (JBJS) over the last 30 years. We searched PubMed for JBJS articles published from 1993 to 2023 and randomly sampled 5% of articles from each year.

Comprehensive prediction of outcomes in patients with ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) using tree-based machine learning algorithms.

ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), a subtype of acute coronary syndrome, is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. Revascularization using primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI) is the gold standard treatment. Despite the restoration of myocardial blood flow, some patients experience adverse outcomes.

Out of the ice age: Preservation of cardiac allografts with a reusable 10 °C cooler.

Objective: Static cold storage with ice has been the mainstay of cardiac donor preservation. Early preclinical data suggest that allograft preservation at 10 °C may be beneficial. We tested this hypothesis by using a static 10 °C storage device to preserve and transport cardiac allografts.

The Dallas Donation after Circulatory Death Transplantation Summit: expanding donation after circulatory death procedures through process improvement, broader utilization, and innovation.

Despite a significant increase in utilization over the past decade, the number of donation after circulatory death (DCD) organs that are procured and transplanted in the United States (US) remains well below its potential. There is still room for expansion, as utilizing DCD organs to the fullest extent is currently the most viable solution to the persistent mismatch between supply and demand in transplantation. We convened a multidisciplinary transplantation summit to examine various aspects of DCD, with faculty members from around the world with clinical and academic interest in DCD donation and transplantation, including abdominal and cardiothoracic surgeons, organ procurement organization directors, hepatologists, and gastroenterologists.

Leveraging machine learning for preoperative prediction of supramaximal ablation in laser interstitial thermal therapy for brain tumors.

Objective: Maximizing safe resection in neuro-oncology has become paramount to improving patient survival and outcomes. Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) offers similar survival benefits to traditional resection, alongside shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times. The extent of ablation (EOA) achieved using LITT is linked to patient outcomes, with greater EOA correlating with improved outcomes.

Targeting ZNF638 activates antiviral immune responses and potentiates immune checkpoint inhibition in glioblastoma.

Viral mimicry refers to the activation of innate anti-viral immune responses due to the induction of endogenous retroelement (RE) expression. Viral mimicry has been previously described to augment anti-tumor immune responses and sensitize solid tumors to immunotherapy including colorectal cancer, melanoma, and clear renal cell carcinoma. Here, we found that targeting a novel, master epigenetic regulator, Zinc Finger Protein 638 (ZNF638), induces viral mimicry in glioblastoma (GBM) preclinical models and potentiates immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI).

Safe Landing: Feasibility and Safety of Operating Room Extubation in Minimally Invasive Cardiac Valve Surgery.

Objective: This study was designed to explore key safety outcomes after operating room (OR) extubation in minimally invasive cardiac valve surgery.

Design: Single-center retrospective chart review.

Setting: Academic medical center in the United States.