Competency Assessment for Mediastinal Mass Resection and Thymectomy: Design and Delphi Review Process.

Objectives: Mediastinal mass resection and thymectomy are complex and related operations that are core components of competency for a general thoracic surgeon and an important learning objective for thoracic surgery trainees. This study aimed to design a combined competency assessment instrument for mediastinal mass resection and thymectomy.

Design: A comprehensive competency assessment instrument was designed by a process of logical analysis by 3 expert thoracic surgeons with an interest in mediastinal surgery.

Application of Lung-Screening Reporting and Data System Versus Pan-Canadian Early Detection of Lung Cancer Nodule Risk Calculation in the Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Study.

Background: False-positive scans and resultant needless early recalls can increase harms and reduce cost-effectiveness of low-dose CT (LDCT) lung cancer screening. How LDCT scans are interpreted and classified may impact these metrics.

Methods: The Pan-Canadian Early Detection of Lung Cancer risk calculator was used to determine nodule risk of malignancy on baseline screening LDCTs in the Alberta Lung Cancer Screening Study, which were then classified according to Nodule Risk Classification (NRC) categories and ACR Lung Screening Reporting and Data System (Lung-RADS).

Esophageal perforation after radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation.

A 69-year-old man underwent left atrial radiofrequency ablation for atrial fibrillation. After 10 minutes, the procedure was terminated due to pericardial tamponade secondary to perforation during mapping. Pericardiocentesis resolved the tamponade.

The biodistribution and pharmacokinetic evaluation of choline-bound gold nanoparticles in a human prostate tumor xenograft model.

Purpose: Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have attracted significant attention in the treatment of cancer due to their potential as novel radiation enhancers, particularly when functionalized with various targeting ligands. The aim of this study was to assess the biodistribution and pharmacokinetic characteristics of a novel choline-bound GNP (choline-GNP) stabilized with polyethelenimine (PEI).

Methods: Choline bound to 27 nm diameter GNPs was characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).