Inequities Associated With Advanced Stage at Presentation of Head and Neck Cancer: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Social determinants of health (SDoH) are defined by a wide range of factors (eg, built environment, economic stability, education level, discrimination, racism, access to health care). Advanced stage at presentation or delayed diagnosis heavily influences health outcomes in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). While the drivers of advanced-stage presentation come from a multitude of sources, SDoH plays an outsized role.

Predicting Complications in 153 Lumbar Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomies by a Single Surgeon Over a 6-Year Period.

Introduction: Pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO) is a complex surgical procedure that provides correction of moderate sagittal imbalance. Surgical complications have adverse effects on patient outcomes and healthcare costs, making it imperative for clinical researchers to focus on minimizing complications. However, when it comes to risk modeling of PSO surgery, there is currently no consensus on which patient characteristics or measures should be used.

Six-week postoperative opioid use and pain following a randomized controlled trial evaluating multimodal analgesia for head and neck free flap patients.

Introduction: Head and neck malignancy treatment often involves invasive surgeries, necessitating effective postoperative pain control. However, chronic reliance on opioid medications remains a challenge for many patients after surgery. Multimodal analgesia (MMA) within enhanced recovery after surgery protocols has shown success in limiting narcotic pain medications for other cancer types.

Impact of Adjuvant Radiotherapy Setting on Quality-of-Life in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Objective: To determine differences in post-treatment QoL across treatment settings in patients receiving adjuvant radiation therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Methods: This was a prospective observational cohort study of patients with HNSCC initially evaluated in a head and neck surgical oncologic and reconstructive clinic at an academic medical center (AMC). Participants were enrolled prior to treatment in a prospective registry collecting demographic, social, and clinical data.

Does Surgical Day of the Week Affect Hospital Course and Outcomes for Patients Undergoing Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery?

Study Design: Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Objectives: Extended hospital length of stay (LOS) poses a significant cost burden to patients undergoing adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between late-week surgery and LOS in patients undergoing ASD surgery.

Exploring the Role of Artificial Intelligence Chatbots in Preoperative Counseling for Head and Neck Cancer Surgery.

Objective: To evaluate the potential use of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots, such as ChatGPT, in preoperative counseling for patients undergoing head and neck cancer surgery.

Study Design: Cross-Sectional Survey Study.

Setting: Single institution tertiary care center.

The Surgical Outcomes of Pedicle Subtraction Osteotomy per Different First Assistant: Retrospective Analysis of 312 Cases.

Introduction: Pedicle subtraction osteotomies (PSOs) are complex spinal deformity surgeries that are associated with high complication rates. They are typically done by an experienced spine surgeon with another attending, resident, or physician assistant serving as the first assistant. The purpose of this study was to determine whether selecting a surgical team for single-level PSO based on case difficulty and fusion length could equalize intraoperative and perioperative outcomes among three groups: dual-attending (DA), attending and orthopaedic resident (RS), and attending and physician assistant (PA).

Searching for evidence in public health emergencies: a white paper of best practices.

Objectives: Information professionals have supported medical providers, administrators and decision-makers, and guideline creators in the COVID-19 response. Searching COVID-19 literature presented new challenges, including the volume and heterogeneity of literature and the proliferation of new information sources, and exposed existing issues in metadata and publishing. An expert panel developed best practices, including recommendations, elaborations, and examples, for searching during public health emergencies.

Treatment failure patterns are similar between p16- and p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Background: The incidence of p16+ oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been increasing. The notion that p16+ OPSCC has a propensity for atypical and disseminating metastasis has gained traction. We compared treatment failure patterns in p16+ and p16- OPSCC and evaluated survival impact.

Ultrasound for the assessment of thyroid nodules: an overview for non-radiologists.

Upon discovery of a thyroid nodule (or nodules), a patient is usually referred for evaluation by ultrasound, which is typically performed by a trained radiologist or sonographer. More recently, this technology has been used intraoperatively by endocrine surgeons and also by endocrinologists, often in the context of 'one-stop shops' or point of care ultrasound in the outpatient setting. Although thyroid nodules are common and most will be benign, the subsequent work up of these can cause anxiety for patients and place a burden on radiologists.

Sampling the skin surface chemistry for diagnosis and prognosis.

Skin and wound blotting are non-invasive techniques used to sample the skin and wound surface chemistry, whereby a nitrocellulose membrane is applied to an intact or broken cutaneous surface to detect biomarkers. However, there has been no comprehensive review of the evidence for the techniques used and data obtained to date. The primary aim of this study was to review the utilities of surface blotting for the diagnosis and prognosis of physiological, pre-disease, and pathological states.

Minimally invasive spine surgery as treatment for persistent infectious lumbar spondylodiscitis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Antibiotic resistant infectious spondylodiscitis (IS) can cause significant morbidity for patients. Open surgical techniques were previously the only option for patients who failed antibiotic therapy. However, advances in minimally invasive surgical techniques may provide a new alternative for some patients.

Impact of AJCC 8th edition staging system and definitive treatment choice on the prognosis of complete responders with p16+ and p16- oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinomas.

Objectives: To identify predictors of overall survival (OS) in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) patients who achieved complete response (CR).

Methods: We performed a retrospective study of OPSCC patients who achieved CR from a single academic medical center. Associations between OS, AJCC 8th edition staging system, definitive treatment choice, smoking history, and p16 status were assessed.

Not Home Alone: Leveraging Telehealth and Informatics to Create a Lean Model for COVID-19 Patient Home Care.

In response to the emerging COVID-19 public health emergency in March 2020, the Medical University of South Carolina rapidly implemented an analytics-enhanced remote patient monitoring (RPM) program with state-wide reach for SARS-CoV-2-positive patients. Patient-reported data and other analytics were used to prioritize the sickest patients for contact by RPM nurses, enabling a small cadre of RPM nurses, with the support of ambulatory providers and urgent care video visits, to oversee 1234 patients, many of whom were older, from underserved populations, or at high risk of serious complications. Care was escalated based on prespecified criteria to primary care provider or emergency department visit, with 89% of moderate- to high-risk patients treated solely at home.

Advancement of Photospheric Radius Expansion and Clocked Type-I X-Ray Burst Models with the New ^{22}Mg(α,p)^{25}Al Reaction Rate Determined at the Gamow Energy.

We report the first (in)elastic scattering measurement of ^{25}Al+p with the capability to select and measure in a broad energy range the proton resonances in ^{26}Si contributing to the ^{22}Mg(α,p) reaction at type I x-ray burst energies. We measured spin-parities of four resonances above the α threshold of ^{26}Si that are found to strongly impact the ^{22}Mg(α,p) rate. The new rate advances a state-of-the-art model to remarkably reproduce light curves of the GS 1826-24 clocked burster with mean deviation <9% and permits us to discover a strong correlation between the He abundance in the accreting envelope of the photospheric radius expansion burster and the dominance of ^{22}Mg(α,p) branch.

Impact of p16 Status and Anatomical Site in Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy-Treated Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Patients.

In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), anti-PD-1 inhibitors are approved for recurrent/metastatic (R/M) disease and anticipated to expand to other indications. The impact of p16 status and anatomical site on overall survival (OS) in immunotherapy-treated HNSCC patients remains unresolved. We performed a retrospective analysis of R/M HNSCC patients receiving anti-PD-1 immunotherapy at our academic medical center with an extensive community satellite network.

Detection of Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus in the Absence of Clinical Disease in Cattle and Buffalo in South East Asia.

Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) is widespread throughout much of the world, including parts of South East Asia. Surveillance is often limited in endemic areas, relying predominantly on passive outbreak reporting. As part of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)'s South East Asia and China Foot-and-Mouth Disease Project (SEACFMD), field sampling was performed to help understand evidence of widespread virus exposure observed in previous studies.

Towards MOFs' mass market adoption: MOF Technologies' efficient and versatile one-step extrusion of shaped MOFs directly from raw materials.

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOFs) offer unparalleled physical and sorption properties due to their chemical tunability and unmatched porosity. MOFs are consequently envisaged to play a key role in commercial gas storage and separation applications. However, it is essential to tackle their current market entry barriers, if mainstream adoption is to be realised.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) induces ventricular arrhythmias and prolongs QTc interval in mice in an FGF receptor 4-dependent manner.

Fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) is a phosphate regulating protein hormone released by osteocytes. FGF23 becomes markedly elevated in chronic kidney disease (CKD), for which the leading cause of death is cardiovascular disease, particularly sudden cardiac death. Previously, we found that FGF23 increases intracellular Ca in cardiomyocytes and alters contractility in mouse ventricles ex vivo via FGF receptor 4 (FGFR4).

Initiation of a Night Float System in an Otolaryngology Residency: Resident Perception and Impact on Operative Volume.

Objectives: Evaluate resident perception on implementation of a night float (NF) system to an otolaryngology residency program. We compared these perceptions to Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) case log data.

Methods: A retrospective anonymous survey was sent to residents and alumni graduating between 2015 and 2023.

Tracheostomy in the pediatric trisomy 21 population.

Introduction: Tracheostomy in children is often performed to alleviate airway obstruction (AO) or to facilitate long-term ventilator support due to respiratory failure of various etiologies, such as heart failure, and postoperative respiratory failure. Although many of these pathologies are common among trisomy 21 patients, tracheostomy rates among this population have not previously been reported. The aim of our study was to determine the incidence of trisomy 21 patients undergoing tracheostomy.