Chest X-ray Overuse in Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit per American College of Radiology Criteria.

Background: A routine chest radiograph (CXR) is frequently incorporated into postoperative clinical pathways. Whereas prior studies evaluated CXR use for specific indications, overall CXR "stewardship" within cardiothoracic surgery remains undescribed. We characterized CXR use within a cardiothoracic intensive care unit (ICU) and quantified X-ray-driven changes in patient management.

Performance of the High-STEACS Early Rule Out Pathway Using hs-cTnT at 30 Days in a Multisite US Cohort.

Background: The High-STEACS (High-Sensitivity Troponin in the Evaluation of Patients With Acute Coronary Syndrome) pathway risk stratifies emergency department patients with possible acute coronary syndrome. This study aims to determine if the High-STEACS hs-cTnT (high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T) pathway can achieve the ≥99% negative predictive value (NPV) safety threshold for 30-day cardiac death or myocardial infarction (CDMI) in a multisite US cohort of patients with and without known coronary artery disease (CAD).

Methods: A secondary analysis of the STOP-CP (High-Sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T [Gen 5 STAT Assay] to Optimize Chest Pain Risk Stratification) cohort, which enrolled adult emergency department patients with possible acute coronary syndrome at 8 US sites (January 25, 2017-September 6, 2018).

Lung cancer mortality among aircraft manufacturing workers with long-term, low-level, hexavalent chromium exposure.

Hexavalent chromium (CrVI) is known to cause lung cancer among workers exposed to high concentrations in certain historical industries. It is also a toxic air contaminant considered to pose a potentially significant cancer risk at comparatively low concentrations in urban air. However, very limited data currently exist to quantify risk at low-concentration occupational or environmental exposures.