Socioeconomic Differences in Navigating Access to Lung Transplant.

Importance: Inequitable access to transplant in the US is well recognized, yet the nature and extent of upstream disparities in care prior to transplant are unknown.

Objective: To understand patterns of referral for lung transplant by race, ethnicity, and neighborhood-level socioeconomic status.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This retrospective cohort study included adults aged 18 to 80 years with obstructive and restrictive lung disease from a single large-volume transplant center in Cleveland, Ohio, who were diagnosed between January 1, 2006, and May 11, 2023.

Perioperative Trends in Distress Among Cancer Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Introduction: Distress is common among cancer patients, especially those undergoing surgery. However, no study has systematically analyzed distress trends in this population. The purpose of this study was to systematically review perioperative rates of distress, as well as differences across cancer types, in cancer patients undergoing surgical intervention.

Radiographic outcomes and subsidence rate in hyperlordotic versus standard lordotic interbody spacers in patients undergoing anterior cervical discectomy and fusion.

Background: Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) is a common surgery for patients with degenerative cervical disease and current interbody spacers utilized vary based on material composition, structure, and angle of lordosis. Currently, there is a lack of literature comparing subsidence rates or long-term radiographic outcomes with hyperlordotic and standard lordotic spacers. This study compares long-term radiographic outcomes, subsidence rate, and rate of fusion in patients who underwent ACDF with hyperlordotic or standard interbody placement.

Protocol to establish standards for the elements infection prevention and control programs and competencies for infection control professionals in Australian residential aged care homes.

The COVID-19 pandemic elucidated the importance of infection prevention and control (IPC) in residential aged care homes (RACHs), both on the health and wellbeing of its residents, and the staff and clinicians who care for them. While considerable efforts have been made in Australia to improve IPC both during and in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of these resources remain reliant on evidence originating from hospitals and acute healthcare settings. This research aims to establish the core minimum components that will populate standards for IPC programs and governance (Stream A) and for professional practice and competencies (Stream B) in RACHs.

Validation of loci and genes associated with fertility in Holstein cows using gene-set enrichment analysis-SNP and genotype-by-sequencing.

Background: The financial strain fertility issues cause the dairy cattle industry is substantial, with over $7 billion in lost revenue accrued annually due to a relatively low cow conception rate (CCR; 30-43%) for US dairy cows. While CCR has been improving through genomic selection, identification of causal mutations would help improve the rate of genetic progress with genomic selection and provide a better understanding of infertility. The objectives of this study were to: (1) identify genes and gene-sets associated with CCR to the first breeding (CCR1) and the number of breedings required to conceive (TBRD) in Holstein cows and (2) identify putative functional variants associated with CCR1 and TBRD through a custom genotype-by-sequencing array.

Integrated Whole Genome and Transcriptome Sequencing as a Framework for Pediatric and Adolescent AML Diagnosis and Risk Assessment.

Pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) exhibits distinct genetic characteristics, including unique driver alterations and mutations with prognostic and therapeutic significance. Emerging rare, recurrent genetic abnormalities and their associations with outcomes emphasize the need for high-throughput molecular diagnostic tools. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) reliably detects key AML biomarkers such as structural variants, mutations, and copy number alterations.

Comparing Postoperative Opioid Use in Primary and Revision Lumbar Fusion: A Propensity-Matched Analysis.

Objective: This study compared postoperative opioid use for patients undergoing short segment primary versus revision lumbar fusion.

Methods: Patients who underwent primary or revision 1-2 level lumbar fusion (2017-2021) were included in this study. The state PDMP was reviewed for all patients to quantify preoperative and postoperative opioid, benzodiazepine, muscle relaxant, and gabapentin use.

A Fundamental Ultrafast Spectroscopic Insight into Urocanic Acid Derivatives.

-Urocanic acid (UA) was once thought to be an ideal natural UV sunscreen filter because of its strong UV absorption and efficient nonradiative decay, in addition to its natural presence in human skin. However, its commercial use was abandoned following the discovery of the immunosuppressive properties of the isomer formed following photoexcitation. From the extensive literature accumulated over the past decades, UA serves as a perfect scaffold for developing next-generation nature-inspired UV filters by eliminating the immunosuppressive characteristics and retaining the favorable photophysics.

The Effect of Body Mass Index on Surgical Outcomes Following Aseptic Short-Segment Revision Lumbar Fusions: A Retrospective Study.

Purpose: This study investigated the association between preoperative body mass index and surgical outcomes, reoperation rate, and one-year patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following 1-3 level revision lumbar fusion.

Methods: Patients who underwent a 1-3 level revision lumbar fusion from 2011-2021 were included. Patients were grouped into BMI classes: Normal (18.

Validating the Hierarchical Nature of the AO Spine Upper Cervical Spine Injury Classification System.

Study Design: Global cross-sectional survey.

Objective: To validate the hierarchical nature of the AO Spine Upper Cervical Spine Injury Classification (UCIC) across AO geographical regions/practice experience.

Summary Of Background Data: In order to create a universally validated scheme with prognostic value, AO Spine established an upper cervical spine injury classification involving three elements: injury morphology (region: I - occipital condyle and craniocervical junction; II - C1 ring and C1-2 joint; III - C2 and C2-3 joint), and (subtype: A - isolated bony injury; B - bony/ligamentous injury; C - displaced/translational injury), neurologic status (N0 - intact; N1 - transient deficit; N2 - radiculopathy; N3 - incomplete spinal cord injury (SCI); N4 - complete SCI, and NX - unable to examine), and case-specific modifiers (M1 - injuries at risk of nonunion; M2 - injuries at risk of instability; M3 - patient specific factors; M4 - vascular injury).

An immunoregulatory amphipathic peptide derived from Fasciola hepatica helminth defense molecule (FhHDM-1.C2) exhibits potent biotherapeutic activity in a murine model of multiple sclerosis.

The helminth defense molecules (HDM) are a family of immune regulatory peptides exclusively expressed by trematode worms. We have previously demonstrated that in vivo FhHDM-1, the archetypal member of the HDMs, regulated macrophage responses to inflammatory ligands, thereby ameliorating the progression of immune-mediated tissue damage in several murine models of inflammatory disease. Accordingly, we postulated that an understanding of the structure-function relationship of the HDMs would facilitate the identification of the minimal bioactive peptide, which would represent a more synthesizable, cost-effective, potent biotherapeutic.

The use of financial incentives for smoking cessation in pregnant women: A parallel-group randomised controlled trial protocol.

Background And Aims: Smoking cessation during pregnancy results in short- and long-term health benefits for the mother and infant. Despite public health policies and initiatives to reduce smoking, smoking in pregnancy remains unacceptably high in Australia, particularly among populations of high disadvantage. Internationally, the use of financial incentives has shown some promise in assisting pregnant women to quit smoking, but more research is needed in different contexts.

High-intensity home-based rehabilitation in a Medicare accountable care organization.

Objectives: Patients are often discharged to a skilled nursing facility (SNF) for postacute rehabilitation. Functional outcomes achieved in SNFs are variable, and costs are high. Especially for accountable care organizations (ACOs), home-based postacute rehabilitation offers a high-value option if outcomes are not compromised.

One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction.

Freshwater ecosystems are highly biodiverse and important for livelihoods and economic development, but are under substantial stress. To date, comprehensive global assessments of extinction risk have not included any speciose groups primarily living in freshwaters. Consequently, data from predominantly terrestrial tetrapods are used to guide environmental policy and conservation prioritization, whereas recent proposals for target setting in freshwaters use abiotic factors.

Role of Altmetric Attention Scores in Evaluating the Influence of Spine Surgery Research.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Objective: To analyze the annual trends in the most prevalent topics, journals, and geographic regions of the top 100 spine surgery articles, as determined by altmetric attention scores (AASs). We also describe the relationship between AAS and traditional article metrics.

Neuromuscular Blockade Reversal with Sugammadex Reduces Cardiac Complications and OR Time for Prone Lumbar Spinal Fusion Compared to Neostigmine.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate inpatient complication profiles of patients receiving neuromuscular blockade reversal via sugammadex versus neostigmine/glycopyrrolate.

Summary Of Background Data: Sugammadex is a neuromuscular blockade reversal agent that binds non-depolarizing muscle relaxants.

Perioperative Antidepressant Use is Associated with Symptomatic Pseudarthrosis after Lumbar Fusion.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort.

Objective: To explore the relationship between symptomatic pseudoarthrosis requiring revision after lumbar fusion and antidepressant use.

Summary Of Background Data: Approximately 25% of patients undergoing spine surgery are taking antidepressants.

Impact of Antidepressant Use on Intraoperative Blood Loss and Transfusion Rates in Lumbar Fusion Surgery.

Objective: A quarter of spine surgery patients take antidepressants. Basic science research has suggested serotonergic antidepressants impair platelet function. This has been supported by only a small number of works in the setting of spine surgery.

Postoperative Ketamine May be Associated with Venous Thromboembolism in Chronic Opioid Users After Spine Surgery.

Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a serious postoperative adverse event after spine surgery. In patients with pain refractory to typical multimodal analgesia regimens after spine surgery, whom are often chronic opioid users, perioperative ketamine is an alternative analgesic that has grown in popularity. The aim of this study is to assess the risk of VTE in chronic opioid users undergoing spine surgery.

The Effect of Community-Level Socioeconomic Status on Surgical Outcomes Following Revision Lumbar Fusion.

Background: The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of community-level socioeconomic status (SES) on surgical outcomes and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) following revision lumbar fusion.

Methods: Adult patients who underwent revision lumbar fusion surgery from 2011-2021 were grouped by Distressed Community Index (DCI) into Prosperous, Comfortable, Mid-tier, and At-Risk/Distressed cohorts. Demographics, surgical information, and PROMs were compared based on DCI community status.

Nurse-led framework to improve the safety and quality of residential aged care (HIRAID® Aged Care): protocol for a stepped-wedge cluster randomised controlled trial.

Background: The health issues experienced by older people can often be severe and complex, and an increasing number are using residential aged care services to meet their care needs. High-quality nursing care is fundamental to the health and safety of aged care residents and is contingent on nurses' accurate assessment, informed decision-making, and delivery of timely interventions. However, the role of the aged care nurse is often challenging, impeded by factors such as understaffing, high workloads, and a lack of access to clinical infrastructure and resources.

Lumbar Fusion Surgical Prophylaxis Using Cefazolin vs. Vancomycin in the Penicillin-Allergic Patient.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To compare peri- and postoperative infection rates among patients with mild to moderate penicillin allergies who receive cefazolin vs vancomycin as prophylaxis for lumbar fusion. Additionally, we sought to determine if patients receiving cefazolin exhibited any clinical symptoms suggestive of drug-induced hypersensitivity reactions, and to compare those rates to patients who received vancomycin.