Evaluation of Peer Review of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention Operator Performance.

Background: Case-based peer review of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is used by many hospitals for quality improvement and to make decisions regarding physician competency. However, there are no studies testing the reliability or validity of peer review for PCI performance evaluation.

Methods: We recruited interventional cardiologists from 12 Veterans Affairs Health System facilities throughout the United States to provide PCI cases for review.

The Impact of Genetic Mutations on the Efficacy of Immunotherapies in Lung Cancer.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, primarily driven by genetic mutations. The most common genetic alterations implicated in lung cancer include mutations in , , , , , , , , , , , and . Targeted therapies have been developed to inhibit cancer growth by focusing on these specific genetic mutations.

Rural Residence Associated with Receipt of Recommended Post-Discharge COPD Care among a Cohort of U.S. Veterans.

Rationale: Individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in rural areas experience inequitable access to care.

Objective: To assess whether rural residence is associated with receipt of recommended post-discharge COPD care.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study of all U.

Starting a surgical prehabilitation program: results from a pragmatic nonrandomized feasibility study.

Purpose: We sought to assess the feasibility and estimate the effects on outcomes of a multimodal prehabilitation service implemented as an ancillary surgical service.

Methods: We conducted a pragmatic, nonrandomized feasibility study of surgical prehabilitation. Patients were eligible if they were ≥ 18 yr of age, fluent in English, and referred by a health professional for prehabilitation.

Supplemental Oxygen Use, Outcomes, and Spending in Patients With COPD in the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program.

Importance: The Medicare Competitive Bidding Program (CBP), a policy that reduced durable medical equipment prices, was implemented starting in 2011. Legislation introduced in 2024 aims to remove supplemental oxygen from the CBP because of concerns that recent decreases in oxygen prescribing are due to lower prices set by the CBP, which may have decreased supply and, in turn, limited oxygen access for patients with chronic lung diseases. However, low-value prescribing of oxygen is also prevalent in practice, and decreased oxygen prescription rates may not have necessarily caused harm.

Potential of Resveratrol to Combine with Hydrogel for Photodynamic Therapy against Bacteria and Cancer-A Review.

Unlabelled: Bacterial infections and cancers are important issues in public health around the world. Currently, Western medicine is the most suitable approach when dealing with these issues. "Antibiotics" and "Corticosteroids" are the Western medicines used for bacterial infection.

Bio-active metabolites from Chinese Medicinal Herbs for treatment of skin diseases.

Unlabelled: Skin diseases have become serious issues to human health and affect one-third of the world's population according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). These consist of internal (endogenous) and external (exogenous) factors referring to genetics, hormones, and the body's immune system, as well as environmental situations, UV radiation, or environmental pollution respectively. Generally, Western Medicines (WMs) are usually treated with topical creams or strong medications for skin diseases that help superficially, and often do not treat the root cause.

The Impact of Changing Race-Specific Equations for Lung Function Tests among Veterans with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

The American Thoracic Society recommended a single reference equation for spirometry, but the impact on patients is not known. To estimate the effect of changing to a single reference equation among veterans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). A cross-sectional study was conducted including veterans aged ⩾40 to ⩽89 years with COPD and spirometry results from 21 facilities between 2010 and 2019.

Pharmacological Activities of and Its Derivative-"Chrysoeriol" in Skin Diseases.

Unlabelled: Chrysoeriol is an active ingredient derived from the Chinese medicinal herb (CMH) "" in the dried flower bud or bloomed flower of Thunberg. Dermatoses are the most common diseases in humans, including eczema, acne, psoriasis, moles, and fungal infections, which are temporary or permanent and may be painless or painful. Topical corticosteroids are widely used in Western medicine, but there are some side effects when it is continuously and regularly utilized in a large dosage.

Extended offset stems are infrequently required in anterior approach total hip arthroplasty and low usage does not compromise stability.

Introduction: Extended offset (EO) stems are commonly used in posterior approach (PA) total hip arthroplasty (THA), but usage rates and complications are not well studied with anterior approach (AA) THA. This study evaluated usage rates, radiographic outcomes and complications following AA THA between patients receiving EO stems and a matched cohort receiving standard offset (SO) stems.

Materials And Methods: This retrospective review evaluated 1515 consecutive AA THA performed between 2014 and 2021.

The Science of Precision Prevention: Research Opportunities and Clinical Applications to Reduce Cardiovascular Health Disparities.

Precision prevention embraces personalized prevention but includes broader factors such as social determinants of health to improve cardiovascular health. The quality, quantity, precision, and diversity of data relatable to individuals and communities continue to expand. New analytical methods can be applied to these data to create tools to attribute risk, which may allow a better understanding of cardiovascular health disparities.

Area-Level Socioeconomic Disadvantage and Health Care Spending: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Publicly available, US Census-based composite measures of socioeconomic disadvantage are increasingly being used in a wide range of clinical outcomes and health services research. Area Deprivation Index (ADI) and Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) are 2 of the most commonly used measures. There is also early interest in incorporating area-level measures to create more equitable alternative payment models.

Rigidifying of the internal dynamics of amyloid-beta fibrils generated in the presence of synaptic plasma vesicles.

We investigated the changes in internal flexibility of amyloid-β (Aβ) fibrils grown in the presence of rat synaptic plasma vesicles. The fibrils are produced using a modified seeded growth protocol, in which the Aβ concentration is progressively increased at the expense of the decreased lipid to protein ratio. The morphologies of each generation are carefully assessed at several fibrils' growth time points using transmission electron microscopy.

Nurse and Social Worker Palliative Telecare Team and Quality of Life in Patients With COPD, Heart Failure, or Interstitial Lung Disease: The ADAPT Randomized Clinical Trial.

Importance: Many patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure (HF), and interstitial lung disease (ILD) endure poor quality of life despite conventional therapy. Palliative care approaches may benefit this population prior to end of life.

Objective: Determine the effect of a nurse and social worker palliative telecare team on quality of life in outpatients with COPD, HF, or ILD compared with usual care.

Enhancing the e-consult: empowering efficient and collaborative care.

This editorial provides suggestions for improving the process of e-consults, which are a promising method of expanding access to specialty care.

Early activation of cochlear implants: a systematic review and narrative synthesis.

Background: Device activation typically occurs four weeks post cochlear implant surgery. Emerging evidence suggests earlier activation is feasible and beneficial, giving patients quicker access to sound and rehabilitation.

Objectives: Assess current literature for effects of early cochlear implant activation.

Assessment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease in Primary Care.

Study Objectives: Observational studies link untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) with adverse outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The first step in addressing OSA is a clinical assessment. However, given competing demands and a lack of high-quality evidence, it is unclear how often such assessments occur.

Eliminating Algorithmic Racial Bias in Clinical Decision Support Algorithms: Use Cases from the Veterans Health Administration.

The Veterans Health Administration uses equity- and evidence-based principles to examine, correct, and eliminate use of potentially biased clinical equations and predictive models. We discuss the processes, successes, challenges, and next steps in four examples. We detail elimination of the race modifier for estimated kidney function and discuss steps to achieve more equitable pulmonary function testing measurement.

Protocol for a pragmatic trial testing a self-directed lifestyle program targeting weight loss among patients with obstructive sleep apnea (POWER Trial).

Background: Obesity comprises the single greatest reversible risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Despite the potential of lifestyle-based weight loss services to improve OSA severity and symptoms, these programs have limited reach. POWER is a pragmatic trial of a remote self-directed weight loss care among patients with OSA.

Inhaler Formulary Change in COPD and the Association with Exacerbations, Health Care Utilization, and Costs.

Rationale: Prescription formularies specify which medications are available to patients. Formularies change frequently, potentially forcing patients to switch medications for nonclinical indications (nonmedical switching). Nonmedical switching is known to impact disease control and adherence.

Adjunctive hyperbaric oxygen therapy for spinal cord ischemia after complex aortic repair.

Objective: Spinal cord ischemia (SCI) with paraplegia or paraparesis is a devastating complication of complex aortic repair (CAR). Treatment includes cerebrospinal fluid drainage, maintenance of hemoglobin concentration (>10 g/L), and elevating mean arterial blood pressure. Animal and human case series have reported improvements in SCI outcomes with hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT).

Risks of Zolpidem among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonists (NBZRA, e.g., zolpidem) are frequently used to treat insomnia among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).