Real-world survival and economic burden among patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma in the United States.

Background: Given the changing treatment landscape for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma (la/mUC), this study aimed to describe real-world treatments, overall survival (OS), health care resource utilization (HCRU), and costs among US patients with la/mUC receiving first-line therapy.

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted using 100% Medicare claims data (2015-2020). Patients with la/mUC were selected; initiation of first-line therapy was the index date.

Homophily in social and demographic traits predict association patterns in female western and mountain gorillas.

Affiliative relationships are a hallmark of social relationships in gregarious mammals, but what drives variation of association patterns when kin are absent remains unknown. Gorillas, where females may disperse multiple times in their lives, provide an interesting counterpoint to female philopatric species to examine the factors influencing variation in association patterns. We examined demographic and social factors that may predict association patterns of female western (; Loango, Gabon) and mountain gorillas (; Bwindi, Uganda).

Health Disparities in Vasomotor Symptom Prevalence and Treatment Discontinuation in Women of Menopausal Age: A Commercial Claims Analysis.

To estimate the prevalence of diagnosed vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause among US women aged 40-64 years and assess sociodemographic differences in VMS prevalence and risk of discontinuing VMS-related treatment. This retrospective study evaluated merged data from IQVIA's PharMetrics Plus medical claims and consumer attributes databases for 2017-2020. VMS diagnosis was identified using International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-10-CM) diagnosis codes.

Hybrid open-endovascular onyx embolization of spinal type IVb perimedullary spinal arteriovenous fistula through direct posterior spinal vein access: A case report.

Background: Spinal arteriovenous fistulas (SAVFs) are direct communication between arteries and veins without intervening abnormal vessel nidus, which often results in venous congestion and spinal cord dysfunction. Ventrally located SAVF can be challenging to treat through traditional open or endovascular approaches.

Case Description: We describe a hybrid (open/endovascular) procedure in a 72-year-old male with a Takai Type IVb SAVF presenting with paraparesis and sphincter dysfunction.

The Careful Project: Evaluating the acceptability of local virtual reality experiences as a leisure activity for residents in aged care.

Objectives: The aim of this project was to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of virtual reality (VR) as a leisure activity for people living in residential aged care. Virtual reality experiences may offer alternatives for residents with limited mobility, or during times when older people are unable to leave residential care.

Methods: The intervention used VR videos delivered via a head-mounted device.

Endovascular surgical neuro-oncology: advancing a new subspecialty.

Endovascular surgical neuro-oncology is a relatively new subspecialty which uses endovascular neuro-interventional techniques for the management of nervous system tumors and tumor-related vascular conditions. Although there are several endovascular procedures that are widely available as standard-of-care diagnostic and treatment adjuncts, there has been a renewed interest to explore endovascular approaches as a means for selective intra-arterial delivery of therapeutic agents to nervous system tumors, including methods for opening the blood brain and blood tumor barriers. In this review, we discuss the historical development of various forms of endovascular intra-arterial treatment for tumors over the past 40 years, summarize endovascular approaches that are currently being employed, and highlight current clinical trials.

Impact of duration of dual anti-platelet therapy on risk of complications after stent-assisted coiling of unruptured aneurysms.

Background: The optimal duration for dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after stent-assisted coiling (SAC) of intracranial aneurysms is unclear. Longer-term therapy may reduce thrombotic complications but increase the risk of bleeding complications.

Methods: A retrospective review of prospectively maintained data at 12 institutions was conducted on patients with unruptured intracranial aneurysms who underwent SAC between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2020, and were followed ≥6 months postprocedure.

Assessing Surgeons' Attitude to Teaching Intra-Corporeal Anastomosis.

There is a controversy in minimally invasive colorectal procedures regarding choosing optimal technique between intra-corporeal (ICA) and extra-corporeal anastomosis (ECA). Previous studies recognize the short-term benefits in right hemicolectomy with intra-corporeal approach; however, ICA can result in increased operative difficulty. The aim of this study is to understand attitudes towards teaching ICA in colorectal procedures and how this varies between subspeciality training.

Treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in the United States.

Androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPIs) prolong metastasis-free survival and overall survival in patients with nonmetastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC). This study aimed to evaluate real-world treatment patterns, utilization and survival outcomes in patients with nmCRPC. This retrospective cohort study used Optum database electronic health records of patients with nmCRPC from 1 January 2007 to 31 December 2020 in the US.

Novel Techniques and Technologies for Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: A Large Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

: In an era of growing evidence for transaortic valve implantation (TAVI), our research topic was the evaluation of how surgical aortic valve replacements (SAVRs) are performing in terms of short- and long-term outcomes in different risk categories. : This was a single centre, prospective, and observational cohort study of consecutive patients with aortic valve stenosis, undergoing isolated aortic valve replacement using a biological or mechanical prosthesis, Freestyle™ (Medtronic, Minneapolis, MN, USA) graft, homograft, or Ross procedure. The participant data were collected by review of an internal database.

A Scoping Review of Focused Ultrasound Enhanced Drug Delivery for Across the Blood-Brain Barrier for Brain Tumors.

Background And Objectives: Previous mechanisms of opening the blood-brain barrier (BBB) created a hypertonic environment. Focused ultrasound (FUS) has recently been introduced as a means of controlled BBB opening. Here, we performed a scoping review to assess the advances in drug delivery across the BBB for treatment of brain tumors to identify advances and literature gaps.

Clinical Outcomes and Treatment Patterns in Adults With FLT3-ITD Acute Myeloid Leukemia Undergoing Allogeneic Hemopoietic Cell Transplantation in the United States and Canada.

Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) is used to treat patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with internal tandem duplication of the FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 gene (FLT3-ITD). However, the effect of different characteristics on outcomes after transplant is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to determine the impact of patient, disease, and transplant characteristics on clinical outcomes and trends in maintenance therapy for patients with FLT3-ITD AML who underwent their first alloHCT.

Shots at goal in Australian Football: Historical trends, determinants of accuracy and common strategies.

Objectives: To understand the historical context of and relationships between, the characteristics of shots at goal and match outcome in the Australian Football League.

Design: Observational.

Methods: Descriptive statistics of shots at goal were calculated and compared across 20 seasons.

Comparison of Healthcare Costs for Women with Treated Versus Untreated Vasomotor Symptoms Due to Menopause.

Introduction: The study objective was to estimate all-cause healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) and medical and pharmacy costs for women with treated versus untreated vasomotor symptoms (VMS) due to menopause.

Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using US claims data from Optum Research Database (study period: January 1, 2012-February 29, 2020). Women aged 40-63 years with a VMS diagnosis claim and ≥ 12 and ≥ 18 months of continuous enrollment during baseline and follow-up periods, respectively, were included.

Treatment Patterns and Mutation Testing Among Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia in China: A Retrospective Observational Study.

Introduction: For acute myeloid leukemia (AML), prognosis is particularly poor in patients harboring FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 () gene mutations, though routine screening for these mutations at diagnosis has been shown to be insufficient. The understanding of the impact of mutations on treatment decisions is limited.

Methods: In this retrospective, observational study, we investigated the key epidemiological characteristics, treatment patterns and responses among adult patients with newly diagnosed (ND) AML in China, who initiated treatment from January 1, 2015, to December 31, 2019, or progressed to relapsed/refractory (R/R) AML by December 31, 2020.

Anal fissures: An update on treatment options.

Background: Anal fissure (AF) is the second most common anorectal complaint in healthcare settings. The presentation might be acute or chronic, characterised by severe pain with defaecation that persists for one to two hours. Non-surgical and surgical interventions are available based on the severity and persistence of the fissure.

Work absenteeism, disability, and lost wages among patients with acute myeloid leukemia and their caregivers: a cohort study using US administrative claims and productivity data.

Objective: We describe the impact of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) diagnosis on workplace absenteeism and disability days among patients and their caregivers.

Methods: This retrospective study included adults with newly diagnosed AML (2009-2019) and adult caregivers of patients with newly diagnosed AML, identified from the US Merative™ MarketScan® Commercial Database. The Merative MarketScan Health and Productivity Management Database provided linked patient-level records of workplace absence and short-term (STD) and long-term disability (LTD) data.

Guidelines to the Practice of Anesthesia-Revised Edition 2024.

The Guidelines to the Practice of Anesthesia-Revised Edition 2024 (the Guidelines) were prepared by the Canadian Anesthesiologists' Society (CAS), which reserves the right to determine their publication and distribution. The Guidelines are subject to revision and updated versions are published annually. The Guidelines to the Practice of Anesthesia-Revised Edition 2024 supersede all previously published versions of this document.

Cost-Effectiveness of a Direct-Aspiration First-Pass Technique versus Stent Retriever in Mechanical Thrombectomy.

Objective: A direct-aspiration first-pass technique (ADAPT) in mechanical thrombectomy has been described in recent studies as an efficacious strategy compared with using a stent retriever (SR). We sought to evaluate for cost differences of ADAPT technique versus SR as an initial approach.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with mechanical thrombectomy at our institution between 2022 and 2023.

Ileal pouch-anal anastomosis provides good functional and quality of life outcomes following proctocolectomy: A 33-year single centre experience.

Background: Restorative proctocolectomy (RP) with ileal pouch-anal anastomosis (IPAA) remains the gold standard for the surgical management of patients with medically refractive mucosal ulcerative colitis. We aimed to identify functional and quality of life (QOL) outcomes in RP and IPAA surgery patients at our institution.

Methods: A retrospective observational study was performed including all patients who had undergone RP and IPAA between August 1984 and November 2017 at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH).