Amniotic Tissue Injections Are an Effective Alternative to Corticosteroid Injections for Pain Relief and Function in Patients With Severe Knee Osteoarthritis: A Double-Blind, Randomized, Prospective Study.

Introduction: The use of corticosteroid injections for short-term pain relief for knee osteoarthritis can have deleterious adverse effects. Amniotic tissue has shown promise in vitro; therefore, this study compared a morcellized injectable amniotic tissue allograft to corticosteroid injection.

Methods: Eighty-one patients with symptomatic severe knee osteoarthritis (Kellgren-Lawrence grade 3 to 4) were prospectively randomized to either a double-blinded single injection of BioDRestore (Integra LifeSciences; n = 39) or triamcinolone acetonide (n = 42).

Spatially programmed alignment and actuation in printed liquid crystal elastomers.

Liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs) exhibit reversible shape morphing behavior when cycled above their nematic-to-isotropic transition temperature. During extrusion-based 3D printing, LCE inks are subjected to coupled shear and extensional flows that can be harnessed to spatially control the alignment of their nematic director along prescribed print paths. Here, we combine experiment and modeling to elucidate the effects of ink composition, nozzle geometry, and printing parameters on director alignment.

The impact of genetic counselor involvement in genetic and genomic test order review: A scoping review.

Purpose: The increasing complexity of genetic technologies paired with more genetic tests being ordered by nongenetic healthcare providers, has resulted in an increase in the number of inappropriately ordered tests. Genetic counselors (GCs) are ideally suited to assess the appropriateness of a genetic test.

Methods: We performed a scoping review of GC involvement in utilization management initiatives in order to describe the impact of having GCs involved in this process.

Burden of coronary artery calcification in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death in ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Screening and primary cardiovascular prevention may improve outcomes.

Methods: We identified patients in the 2002-2019 Mass General Brigham AAV cohort with thoracic CT scans obtained for other clinical purposes.

Expedited Conveyance of Out-of-Hospital-Cardiac Arrest patients with STEMI and shockable rhythms to Cardiac Arrest Centres - A Feasibility Pilot Study of the British Cardiovascular Intervention Society conveyance algorithm.

Background And Aims: Guidelines suggest non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) be conveyed to cardiac arrest centres (CAC). We hypothesised that (a) a pre-hospital conveyance algorithm based on initial presenting rhythm following OHCA is feasible and (b) that would demonstrate survival advantage.

Methods: This observational pilot study included all consecutive patients with OHCA from suspected cardiac aetiology from the county of Essex, United Kingdom from April 2022-April 2023.