Rodents Versus Pig Model for Assessing the Performance of Serotype Chimeric Ad5/3 Oncolytic Adenoviruses.

Oncolytic adenoviruses (Ad) are promising tools for cancer therapeutics. Most Ad-based therapies utilize species C serotypes, with Adenovirus type 5 (Ad5) most commonly employed. Prior clinical trials demonstrated low efficiency of oncolytic Ad5 vectors, mainly due to the absence of Ad5 primary receptor (Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor, CAR) on cancer cells.

Sustainability in medicine.

Given the current state of the U.S. healthcare system, with increasingly complicated regulations and paperwork and decreasing reimbursements, the question arises: Is it possible to provide safe, high-quality healthcare and reduce costs? Furthermore, is it possible to care for the health of your patients while simultaneously caring for the financial health of your practice and promoting improvement in the overall health of the planet? This article will review some steps currently being taken by various companies and hopefully stimulate ideas for changes you may want to consider for your own practice, hospital, or institution.

Value-based purchasing and the doctor-patient relationship.

The Value-Based Purchasing (VBP) program was established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in accordance with mandates under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010. Under the VBP program, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will decrease payments for certain Diagnosis Related Group (DRG) payments. Of the approximately 3100 acute care hospitals affected by the reductions, which hospitals will be able to recoup some of the losses and which ones will be forfeiting the total amount will be decided by predetermined performance measures.

Diagnosis and management of acute diverticulitis.

Uncomplicated diverticulitis is localized diverticular inflammation, whereas complicated diverticulitis is diverticular inflammation associated with an abscess, phlegmon, fistula, obstruction, bleeding, or perforation. Patients with acute diverticulitis may present with left lower quadrant pain, tenderness, abdominal distention, and fever. Other symptoms may include anorexia, constipation, nausea, diarrhea, and dysuria.

Social media and you: what every physician needs to know.

New healthcare models have been developed to keep up with the dynamic changes of the Internet revolution through social media. Physicians are taking this new technology and enhancing their communication with patients as well among the healthcare community including distributing public health information via Twitter and Facebook. However, a physician's freedom of speech via Twitter and blogs can reach millions instantly, causing irreversible harm.

Telepsychiatry services for Korean immigrants.

Asian Americans often face cultural and language barriers when obtaining mental health treatment. With the small number of Asian mental health providers, it is difficult to ensure the linguistic and ethnic matching of providers and patients. Telepsychiatry holds great promise to address the unique needs of Asian Americans.

Laser vaporization of the prostate in vivo: Experience with the 150-W 980-nm diode laser in living canines.

Background And Objective: Anatomic, tissue ablation and coagulation, and histopathologic outcomes of the 150-W 980-nm diode laser selective light vaporization (SLV™) of the prostate in the first survival study of living canines were analyzed.

Study Design/materials And Methods: Ten dogs underwent anterograde SLV™ with the 150-W 980-nm laser delivered by its side-firing fiber (Fusion™). Postoperatively, two dogs were euthanized at 3 hours as planned, six at 2-7 days due to complications, and two, without complications, at 8 weeks as planned.

Evaluation of the Rebound Hernia Repair device for laparoscopic hernia repair.

Background: The characteristics of the ideal type of mesh are still being debated. Mesh shrinkage and fixation have been associated with complications. Avoiding shrinkage and fixation would improve hernia recurrence rates and complications.

New distal embolic protection device the FiberNet 3 dimensional filter: first carotid human study.

Objective: Evaluate the performance and safety of the FiberNet Embolic Protection System during carotid artery intervention.

Background: Carotid Angioplasty and Stenting (CAS) can be proposed to treat the majority of carotid stenoses. Brain embolization takes place and routine use of Embolic Protection Devices (EPD) is warranted.

Bovine pericardium buttress reinforces colorectal anastomoses in a canine model.

Purpose: The consequences of an anastomotic leak or disruption can be devastating, particularly in the colorectal surgery population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare colon anastomoses with or without a collagen matrix buttress derived from bovine pericardium.

Methods: A circular stapler was used to create colon-colon anastomoses in a canine model.

Safety and biocompatibility of the Myosplint system--a passive implantable device that alters ventricular geometry for the treatment of heart failure.

A passive implantable device developed for the treatment of heart failure, the Myosplint System, has demonstrated therapeutic efficacy in a canine model of pacing induced heart failure. The current study sought to demonstrate chronic device safety and biocompatibility, in vivo, in a normal porcine model. Two devices were implanted into each normal, beating heart of 6 juvenile and 15 adult pigs without cardiopulmonary bypass.