Cardiac MRI Evaluation of Determinants and Prognostic Implications of Right Ventricular Dysfunction in Aortic Regurgitation.

Purpose To investigate the determinants and effect of right ventricular (RV) dysfunction in aortic regurgitation (AR) using cardiac MRI. Materials and Methods This study included patients with moderate or severe AR who were enrolled in the DEBAKEY-CMR registry between January 2009 and June 2020. Patients with previous valve intervention, cardiomyopathy deemed unrelated to AR, severe aortic stenosis, and other confounders were excluded.

A novel histologic index for polyomavirus nephropathy in comparison with the Banff scoring system: Clinical validation, prognostic implication, and correlation with plasma viral load.

BK Polyomavirus nephropathy (PVN) with definitive diagnosis on biopsy, presents incidentally or with varying degrees of graft dysfunction. Banff working group on PVN has proposed a novel scoring system in renal biopsies, to identify patients with higher risk of graft failure. In this study, we attempted to validate the Banff scoring system at index biopsies and correlate with a novel index score, plasma BK-virus load and graft outcome.

The Utility of Interferon-γ Release Assays in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Patients With Cancer.

Background: Patients with cancer are at elevated risk for tuberculosis (TB) reactivation. Diagnosis of latent TB infection and TB disease remains challenging in this patient population despite the advent of interferon-γ release assays (IGRA).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all patients with cancer who had IGRA testing (QuantiFERON-TB [QFT-TB] or T-SPOT.

Outcomes of Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Undergoing Liver Transplantation Utilizing Extended Criteria Donor Grafts.

Background: The deceased donor shortage in the United States has led to increased utilization extended criteria donor (ECD) liver grafts. Centers often utilize ECD grafts in patients with low Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) scores, like patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, few studies have directly examined the outcomes of using ECD grafts in patients with HCC.

Opioid use in thoracic surgery: a retrospective study on postoperative complications.

Background: Opioids are important medications that are used to control postoperative pain. The enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) program has reduced opioid use after surgery. In a surgical practice with a robust ERAS program, we wanted to determine if there was a relationship between in-hospital opioid use and postoperative complications.