Cost effectiveness of immune checkpoint inhibitors for treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A systematic review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have recently been introduced into the treatment algorithm of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the cost effectiveness of ICIs compared with pre-existing therapies for HCC has not been assessed. We performed a meta-analysis to understand the incremental cost effectiveness of ICIs compared with sorafenib.

Association of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities With Worse Outcomes After Surgical Treatment of Cancer.

Background: Patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) face unique challenges resulting in disparities in their health care. We sought to define the effect that IDD had on achievement of a "textbook outcome" (TO) following a cancer operation among a nationally representative cohort of patients.

Methods: Data on patients who underwent surgery for a malignant indication, including lung, breast, liver, biliary tract, pancreas, and colorectal, between 2014 and 2020 were extracted from the 100% Medicare Standard Analytical Files database.

Medicaid expansion and palliative care for advanced-stage liver cancer.

Background: Medicaid expansion (ME) has contributed to transforming the United States healthcare system. However, its effect on palliative care of primary liver cancers remains unknown. This study aimed to evaluate the association between ME and the receipt of palliative treatment in advanced-stage liver cancer.

Comparison of tumor response and outcomes of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma after multimodal treatment including immune checkpoint inhibitors - a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: The efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) combined with tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs), trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE), and radiotherapy to treat hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been well-defined. We performed a meta-analysis to characterize tumor response and survival associated with multimodal treatment of HCC.

Methods: PubMed, Embase, Medline, Scopus, and CINAHL databases were searched (1990-2022).

Prognostic value of nodal staging classification and number of examined lymph nodes among patients with ampullary cancer.

Background: Metastatic disease in the regional lymph nodes (LNs) is a strong indicator of worse outcomes among patients after curative-intent resection of ampullary cancer (AC). This study aimed to ascertain the threshold number of examined LNs (ELNs) for AC to compare the prognosis accuracy of various nodal classification schemes relative to long-term prognosis.

Methods: Patients who underwent pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) for AC (2004-2019) were identified using the National Cancer Database.

First-Principle Validation of Fourier's Law: One-Dimensional Classical Inertial Heisenberg Model.

The thermal conductance of a one-dimensional classical inertial Heisenberg model of linear size is computed, considering the first and last particles in thermal contact with heat baths at higher and lower temperatures, Th and Tl (Th>Tl), respectively. These particles at the extremities of the chain are subjected to standard Langevin dynamics, whereas all remaining rotators (i=2,⋯,L-1) interact by means of nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic couplings and evolve in time following their own equations of motion, being investigated numerically through molecular-dynamics numerical simulations. Fourier's law for the heat flux is verified numerically, with the thermal conductivity becoming independent of the lattice size in the limit L→∞, scaling with the temperature, as κ(T)∼T-2.

Association of Racial and Economic Privilege on Postoperative Outcomes Among Medicare Beneficiaries.

Introduction: Social determinants of health can play an important role in patient health. Privilege is a right, benefit, advantage, or opportunity that can positively affect all social determinants of health. We sought to assess variations in the prevalence of privilege among patient populations and define the association of privilege on postoperative surgical outcomes.

The Association of Food Insecurity and Surgical Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Surgery for Colorectal Cancer.

Background: Food insecurity predisposes individuals to suboptimal nutrition, leading to chronic disease and poor outcomes.

Objective: We sought to assess the impact of county-level food insecurity on colorectal surgical outcomes.

Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Postoperative morbidity after simultaneous versus staged resection of synchronous colorectal liver metastases: Impact of hepatic tumor burden.

Background: We sought to characterize the risk of postoperative complications relative to the surgical approach and overall synchronous colorectal liver metastases tumor burden score.

Methods: Patients with synchronous colorectal liver metastases who underwent curative-intent resection between 2000 and 2020 were identified from an international multi-institutional database. Propensity score matching was employed to control for heterogeneity between the 2 groups.

Immigrant Doctors and Their Role in US Healthcare.

Background: The composition of the US healthcare workforce relative to citizenship status remains ill-defined. We sought to characterize practice patterns among US doctors relative to citizenship status.

Materials And Methods: Data were extracted from the 2008-2019 American Community Surveys, and citizenship was stratified as: citizens by birth, naturalized citizens for ≥ 10 years or < 10 years, and non-citizens.

Poor Access to Mental Healthcare is Associated with Worse Postoperative Outcomes Among Patients with Gastrointestinal Cancer.

Background: Mental health has an important role in the care of cancer patients, and access to mental health services may be associated with improved outcomes. Thus, poor access to psychiatric services may contribute to suboptimal cancer treatment. We conducted a geospatial analysis to characterize psychiatrist distribution and assess the impact of mental healthcare shortages with surgical outcomes among patients with gastrointestinal cancer.

Optimal policy tree to assist in adjuvant therapy decision-making after resection of colorectal liver metastases.

Background: Although systemic postoperative therapy after surgery for colorectal liver metastases is generally recommended, the benefit of adjuvant chemotherapy has been debated. We used machine learning to develop a decision tree and define which patients may benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy after hepatectomy for colorectal liver metastases.

Methods: Patients who underwent curative-intent resection for colorectal liver metastases between 2000 and 2020 were identified from an international multi-institutional database.

Mediators of racial disparities in postoperative outcomes among patients undergoing complex surgery.

Background: This study sought to quantify the direct and indirect effects of race on postoperative outcomes after complex surgery.

Methods: Medicare patients who underwent abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), lung resection or colectomy were identified (2014-2018). Generalized structural equation modelling was utilized to quantify the direct and indirect effects of race on Textbook outcome (TO).

Liver transplantation access and outcomes: Impact of variations in liver-specific specialty care.

Background: We sought to characterize the impact access to gastroenterologists/hepatologists has on liver transplantation listing, as well as time on the liver transplantation waitlist and post-transplant outcomes.

Methods: Liver transplantation registrants aged >18 years between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2019 were identified from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients Standard Analytic Files. The liver transplantation registration ratio was defined as the ratio of liver transplant waitlist registrations in a given county per 1,000 liver-related deaths.

Is surgical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma at high-volume centers worth the additional cost?

Background: Case volume has been associated with improved outcomes for patients undergoing treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma, often with higher hospital expenditures. We sought to define the cost-effectiveness of hepatocellular carcinoma treatment at high-volume centers.

Methods: Patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma from 2013 to 2017 were identified from Medicare Standard Analytic Files.

An attempt to establish and apply global benchmarks for liver resection of malignant hepatic tumors.

Background: Benchmarking is a process of continuous self-evaluation and comparison with best-in-class hospitals to guide quality improvement initiatives. We sought to define global benchmarks relative to liver resection for malignancy and to assess their achievement in hospitals in the United States.

Methods: Patients who underwent curative-intent liver resection for hepatocellular carcinoma, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, or colorectal or neuroendocrine liver metastases between 2000 and 2019 were identified from an international multi-institutional database.

Association of Minority-Serving Hospital Status with Post-Discharge Care Utilization and Expenditures in Gastrointestinal Cancer.

Background: Disparities in utilization of post-discharge care and overall expenditures may relate to site of care and race/ethnicity. We sought to define the impact of minority-serving hospitals (MSHs) on postoperative outcomes, discharge disposition, and overall expenditures associated with an episode of surgical care.

Methods: Patients who underwent resection for esophageal, colon, rectal, pancreatic, and liver cancer were identified from Medicare Standard Analytic Files (2013-2017).

The Association of Persistent Poverty and Outcomes Among Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery.

Introduction: We sought to evaluate the association of county-level poverty duration and cardiac surgical outcomes.

Methods: Patients who underwent coronary artery bypass graft, surgical aortic valve replacement, and mitral valve repair and replacement between 2016 and 2020 were identified using the Medicare Standard Analytical Files Database. County-level poverty data were acquired from the American Community Survey and US Department of Agriculture (1980-2015).

Modified integrated tumor burden, liver function, systemic inflammation, and tumor biology score to predict long-term outcomes after resection for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background: A preoperative predictive score for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can help stratify patients who undergo resection relative to long-term outcomes and tailor treatment strategies.

Methods: Patients who underwent curative-intent hepatectomy for HCC between 2000 and 2020 were identified from an international multi-institutional database. A risk score (mFIBA) was developed using an Eastern cohort and then validated using a Western cohort.

Multilayer Stent for Emergency Treatment of Acute Type B Aortic Dissection: A Case Report.

Purpose: We report the case of an acute type B dissection with high-risk features treated with multilayer stent.

Case Report: A 50-year-old female patient presented to the emergency department with an acute type B aortic dissection. Conservative medical treatment did control blood pressure but did not alleviate her dissection symptoms.

A Prognostic Model To Predict Survival After Recurrence Among Patients With Recurrent Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objective: We sought to develop and validate a preoperative model to predict survival after recurrence (SAR) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Background: Although HCC is characterized by recurrence as high as 60%, models to predict outcomes after recurrence remain relatively unexplored.

Methods: Patients who developed recurrent HCC between 2000 and 2020 were identified from an international multi-institutional database.