Genetic strategy to decrease complement activation with adenoviral therapies.

Background: A major obstacle to using recombinant adenoviral vectors in gene therapy is the natural ability of human adenovirus to activate the classical and alternate complement pathways. These innate immune responses contribute to hepatic adenoviral uptake following systemic delivery and enhance the humoral immune responses associated with adenoviral infection.

Methods: A recombinant Ad5 vector was genetically modified to display a peptide sequence ("rH17d'"), a known inhibitor of the classical complement pathway.

Potential for health care cost savings with preoperative gastrostomy tube placement in the head and neck cancer population.

Background: The purpose of this study was to examine the cost differences between preoperative and postoperative placement of gastrostomy tubes (G-tubes) in patients with head and neck cancer.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients with aerodigestive tract cancers from 2010 to 2015. Data included inpatient and postdischarge costs, demographics, tumor characteristics, surgical treatment, length of stay (LOS), time spent in the intensive care unit (ICU), and readmissions.