Body mass index as a prognostic indicator of overall survival in glioblastoma: A systematic review and meta analysis.

Background: Many previous studies have investigated the prognostic value of body mass index (BMI) for GBM outcomes with varying results. We present a comprehensive literature review and meta-analysis investigating BMI as a prognostic value in GBM.

Methods: A systematic review of literature on adult patients with GBM published between 1999 and 2023 was conducted within OVID Medline, Pubmed, and Scopus.

The Impact of Telemedicine on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)-Related Clinical Outcomes During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exacerbated barriers to care for people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (PLWH). The quick uptake of telemedicine in the outpatient setting provided promise for care continuity. In this study, we compared appointment and laboratory no-show rates in an urban outpatient HIV clinic during three time periods: (1) Pre-COVID-19: 9/15/2019-3/14/2020 (predominately in-person), (2) "Early" COVID-19: 3/15/2020-9/14/2020 (predominately telemedicine), and (3) "Later" COVID-19: 9/15/2020-3/14/2021 (mixed in-person/telemedicine).

Outreach to primary care patients in lung cancer screening: A randomized controlled trial.

Current guidelines recommend annual lung cancer screening (LCS), but rates are low. The current study evaluated strategies to increase LCS. This study was a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effects of patient outreach and shared decision making (SDM) about LCS among patients in four primary care practices.

Pharmacologic Ascorbic Acid as Early Therapy for Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19: A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Despite the widespread availability of effective vaccines, new cases of infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, the cause of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), remain a concern in the settings of vaccine hesitancy and vaccine breakthrough. In this randomized, controlled, phase 2 trial, we hypothesized that high-dose ascorbic acid delivered intravenously to achieve pharmacologic concentrations may target the high viral phase of COVID-19 and thus improve early clinical outcomes. Sixty-six patients admitted with COVID-19 and requiring supplemental oxygen were randomized to receive either escalating doses of intravenous ascorbic acid plus standard of care or standard of care alone.

Predictors of overall and test-specific colorectal Cancer screening adherence.

This study investigated predictors of overall and test-specific colorectal cancer screening (CRCS). Stool blood test (SBT) and/or colonoscopy screening were offered to primary care patients in two randomized controlled trials which assessed the impact of behavioral interventions on screening. Data were obtained through surveys and electronic medical records.

Phase I trial of alisertib with concurrent fractionated stereotactic re-irradiation for recurrent high grade gliomas.

Background And Purpose: We conducted a phase I trial of alisertib, an oral aurora kinase inhibitor, with fractionated stereotactic re-irradiation therapy (FSRT) for patients with recurrent high grade glioma (HGG).

Materials And Methods: Adult patients with recurrent HGG were enrolled from Feb 2015 to Feb 2017. Patients were treated with concurrent FSRT and alisertib followed by maintenance alisertib.

Decision Support and Navigation to Increase Colorectal Cancer Screening Among Hispanic Patients.

Background: Effective strategies are needed to raise colorectal cancer screening rates among Hispanics.

Methods: We surveyed and randomized 400 Hispanic primary care patients either to a Decision Support and Navigation Intervention (DSNI) Group ( = 197) or a Standard Intervention (SI) Group ( = 203). Both groups received a colorectal cancer screening kit [bilingual informational booklet, fecal immunochemical stool blood test (SBT), and colonoscopy screening instructions].

Evaluating comfort measures for commonly performed painful procedures in pediatric patients.

Introduction: Management of pediatric pain from medical procedures is of great importance for improving both patient care and experience. In this study, we investigated methods of managing acute pain in infants and children by studying the correlation between the number of attempts to complete painful procedures, given different comfort measures.

Methods: The study is a retrospective review of 74,276 procedures performed at two pediatric hospitals in an integrated academic children's health system between 2013 and 2016.

Patient Characteristics Associated With Quality of Colonoscopy Preparation: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background & Aims: Some features of patients are associated with inadequate bowel preparation, which reduces the effectiveness of colonoscopy examination. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between patients' sociodemographic characteristics, health conditions, and medications with inadequate bowel preparation.

Methods: We searched the PubMed, Scopus, and Cochrane Review databases for randomized controlled trials cohort (prospective and retrospective), case-control, and cross-sectional studies published through March 2016.

Phase 1 Study of Ipilimumab Combined With Whole Brain Radiation Therapy or Radiosurgery for Melanoma Patients With Brain Metastases.

Purpose: We performed a phase 1 study to determine the maximum tolerable dose and safety of ipilimumab with stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) or whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) in patients with brain metastases from melanoma.

Methods And Materials: Based on the intracranial disease burden, patients underwent WBRT (arm A) or SRS (arm B). The ipilimumab starting dose was 3 mg/kg every 3 weeks, starting on day 3 of WBRT or 2 days after SRS.

Intratumoral Infection with Murine Cytomegalovirus Synergizes with PD-L1 Blockade to Clear Melanoma Lesions and Induce Long-term Immunity.

Cytomegalovirus is an attractive cancer vaccine platform because it induces strong, functional CD8(+) T-cell responses that accumulate over time and migrate into most tissues. To explore this, we used murine cytomegalovirus expressing a modified gp100 melanoma antigen. Therapeutic vaccination by the intraperitoneal and intradermal routes induced tumor infiltrating gp100-specific CD8(+) T-cells, but provided minimal benefit for subcutaneous lesions.

Physician and Parent Perspectives on Psychosocial and Emotional Data Entry in the Electronic Medical Record in a Pediatric Setting.

Objective: This pilot study was conducted to evaluate physician and patient preferences for documentation of emotional and psychosocial information in the electronic medical record (EMR).

Methods: Pediatricians from an academic medical center and parents of patients in an academic pediatric rheumatology practice were surveyed on 10 different elements using Likert-type scale items (1 = , 10 = ). The importance of the proposed categories was evaluated by means testing and pairwise comparisons of the responses.

Association of ambulatory heart rate and atherosclerosis risk factors with blood pressure in young non-hypertensive adults.

Objective: The study objective was to assess the association between 24 h ambulatory heart rate (HR), atherosclerosis risk factors and blood pressure (BP) in young non-hypertensive patients.

Methods: We recruited 186 participants aged 18-45 years from a large urban academic Family Medicine outpatient practice, serving 40 000 individuals for this observational study. The main analyses were based on multiple linear regression, with mean 24 h BP (systolic BP (SBP) or diastolic BP (DBP)) as the outcomes, mean 24 h HR as the main predictor of interest, and controlling for age, gender, race, insulin sensitivity/resistance and endothelial function measured by strain gauge venous occlusion plethysmography.

Physicians Caring for Celiac Patients do not Routinely Recommend Screening of First-Degree Family Members.

Aim: Screening first-degree relatives of celiac disease (CD) patients offers an opportunity to diagnose CD in a high-risk population.This study aims to determine how frequently CD patients receive a physician-issued recommendation for first-degree relative screening.

Materials And Methods: A 12-question survey assessing whether CD patients receive a physician recommendation to screen first-degree relatives for CD, and the impact of such a recommendation, was validated with outpatients in a university gastroenterology practice ("University").

A Reproducible Computerized Method for Quantitation of Capillary Density using Nailfold Capillaroscopy.

Capillaroscopy is a non-invasive, efficient, relatively inexpensive and easy to learn methodology for directly visualizing the microcirculation. The capillaroscopy technique can provide insight into a patient's microvascular health, leading to a variety of potentially valuable dermatologic, ophthalmologic, rheumatologic and cardiovascular clinical applications. In addition, tumor growth may be dependent on angiogenesis, which can be quantitated by measuring microvessel density within the tumor.

Association of Adipokines with Insulin Resistance, Microvascular Dysfunction, and Endothelial Dysfunction in Healthy Young Adults.

Proinflammatory adipokines (inflammation markers) from visceral adipose tissue may initiate the development of insulin resistance (IR) and endothelial dysfunction (ED). This study's objective was to investigate the association of five inflammation markers (CRP and four adipokines: IL-6, TNFα, PAI-1, and adiponectin) with IR (quantitative insulin resistance check index (QUICKI)), microvascular measures (capillary density and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR)), and endothelial measures (forearm blood flow (FBF) increases from resting baseline to maximal vasodilation). Analyses were conducted via multiple linear regression.

The Effect of Aspirin on Bleeding and Transfusion in Contemporary Cardiac Surgery.

Objective: Despite evidence that preoperative aspirin improves outcomes in cardiac surgery, recommendations for aspirin use are inconsistent due to aspirin's anti-platelet effect and concern for bleeding. The purpose of this study was to investigate preoperative aspirin use and its effect on bleeding and transfusion in cardiac surgery.

Methods: This retrospective study involved consecutive patients (n=1571) who underwent CABG, valve, or combined CABG and valve surgery at a single center between March 2007 and July 2012.

Increasing colon cancer screening in primary care among African Americans.

Background: The study aimed to determine the effect of preference-based tailored navigation on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening adherence and related outcomes among African Americans (AAs).

Methods: We conducted a randomized controlled trial that included 764 AA patients who were age 50 to 75 years, were eligible for CRC screening, and had received care through primary care practices in Philadelphia. Consented patients completed a baseline telephone survey and were randomized to either a Standard Intervention (SI) group (n = 380) or a Tailored Navigation Intervention (TNI) group (n = 384).

Randomised clinical trial: Polyethylene glycol 3350 with sports drink vs. polyethylene glycol with electrolyte solution as purgatives for colonoscopy--the incidence of hyponatraemia.

Background: Polyethylene glycol 3350 plus sports drink (PEG-SD) is a hypo-osmotic purgative commonly used for colonoscopy, though little safety data are available.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of PEG-SD on serum sodium (Na) and other electrolytes compared with PEG-electrolyte solution (PEG-ELS).

Methods: We performed a single center, prospective, randomised, investigator-blind comparison of PEG-ELS to PEG-SD in out-patients undergoing colonoscopy.

The effects of test preference, test access, and navigation on colorectal cancer screening.

Background: Little is known about how colorectal cancer screening test preferences operate together with test access and navigation to influence screening adherence in primary care.

Methods: We analyzed data from a randomized trial of 945 primary care patients to assess the independent effects of screening test preference for fecal immunochemical test (FIT) or colonoscopy, mailed access to FIT and colonoscopy, and telephone navigation for FIT and colonoscopy, on screening.

Results: Preference was not associated with overall screening, but individuals who preferred FIT were more likely to complete FIT screening (P = 0.

The potential value of phosphohistone-h3 mitotic index determined by digital image analysis in the assessment of pancreatic endocrine tumors in fine-needle aspiration cytology specimens.

Objective: According to the World Health Organization, pancreatic endocrine tumors are graded by assessment of the Ki67 proliferation index and/or mitotic count. The objective was to find comparable grading on the basis of the novel mitotic marker phosphohistone-H3 (PHH3).

Study Design: A computer-assisted system was used to assess 23 cell blocks stained with PHH3 and Ki67 antibodies.