Temporal trends in pediatric cancer mortality: rare cancers lag behind more common cancers.

Temporal trends demonstrate improved survival for many types of common pediatric cancer. Studies have not examined improvement in very rare pediatric cancers or compared these improvements to more common cancers. In this cohort study of the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) registry, we examined patients from 1975 to 2016 who were 0-19 years of age at the time of diagnosis.

Ability of Caprini and Padua risk-assessment models to predict venous thromboembolism in a nationwide Veterans Affairs study.

Objective: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a preventable complication of hospitalization. Risk-stratification is the cornerstone of prevention. The Caprini and Padua are two of the most commonly used risk-assessment models (RAMs) to quantify VTE risk.

Longitudinal characteristics of physical frailty and its components in men and women post hip fracture.

Background: Frailty is an important geriatric syndrome predicting adverse health outcomes in older adults. However, the longitudinal characteristics of frailty components in post-hip fracture patients are less understood. Adopting the Fried frailty definition, we examined the longitudinal trends and sex trajectory differences in frailty and its components over 1 year post-fracture.

Growing Deficit in New Cancer Diagnoses 2 Years Into the COVID-19 Pandemic: A National Multicenter Study.

Background: Large decreases in cancer diagnoses were seen early in the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the evolution of these deficits since the end of 2020 and the advent of widespread vaccination is unknown.

Methods: This study examined data from the Veterans Health Administration (VA) from 1 January 2018 through 28 February 2022 and identified patients with screening or diagnostic procedures or new cancer diagnoses for the four most common cancers in the VA health system: prostate, lung, colorectal, and bladder cancers.

Prediction of bleeding in patients being considered for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis) is an important preventable cause of in-hospital death. Prophylaxis with low doses of anticoagulants reduces the incidence of venous thromboembolism but can also cause bleeding. It is, therefore, important to stratify the risk of bleeding for hospitalized patients when considering pharmacologic prophylaxis.

Ability of Caprini and Padua Risk-Assessment Models to Predict Venous Thromboembolism in a Nationwide Study.

Background: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a preventable complication of hospitalization. Risk-stratification is the cornerstone of prevention. The Caprini and Padua are the most commonly used risk-assessment models to quantify VTE risk.

Palliative Care Consultation is Associated with Decreased Rates of In-Hospital Mortality Among Patients Undergoing Major Amputation.

Background: Despite advancements in medical care and surgical techniques, major amputation continues to be associated with risks for morbidity and mortality. Palliative care programs may help alleviate symptoms and align patients' goals and the care they receive with their treatment plan. Access to specialty palliative medicine among vascular surgery patients is limited.

Ten Year Trends in Minimally Invasive Surgery Fellowship.

Background: Minimally Invasive Surgery (MIS) is one of the more recently established surgical fellowships, with many candidates applying due to a perception of inadequate exposure to advanced MIS during residency. The desire for advanced training should be reflected in increased competitiveness for fellowship positions. The aim of this study is to determine the desirability of MIS fellowships over time through review of national application data.

Beta-blockers and physical frailty in patients with end-stage liver disease.

Aim: To investigate beta-blocker (BB) use in patients with cirrhosis and determine their effects on physical frailty and overall survival.

Methods: Adult outpatients with cirrhosis listed for liver transplantation underwent testing of physical frailty using the performance-based Liver Frailty Index, comprised of chair stands, grip strength, and balance testing, as well as self-reported assessments of exhaustion and physical activity. BB use was assessed from medical chart review.

A Comparison of Muscle Function, Mass, and Quality in Liver Transplant Candidates: Results From the Functional Assessment in Liver Transplantation Study.

Background: Sarcopenia and functional impairment are common and lethal extrahepatic manifestations of cirrhosis. We aimed to determine the association between computed tomography (CT)-based measures of muscle mass and quality (sarcopenia) and performance-based measures of muscle function.

Methods: Adults listed for liver transplant underwent testing of muscle function (grip strength, Short Physical Performance Battery [SPPB]) within 3 months of abdominal CT.

Functional impairment in older liver transplantation candidates: From the functional assessment in liver transplantation study.

The emerging epidemic of older patients with cirrhosis has led to a sharp increase in the number of ≥65 year olds considering liver transplantation (LT). However, clinicians lack objective measures to risk stratify older patients. We aimed to determine whether the short physical performance battery (SPPB), a well-validated geriatric measure of physical function, has greater prognostic value in older versus younger LT candidates.

Total 25(OH) vitamin D, free 25(OH) vitamin D and markers of bone turnover in cirrhotics with and without synthetic dysfunction.

Background & Aims: Current clinical assays for total 25-hydroxy (OH) vitamin D measure vitamin D bound to vitamin D-binding protein (DBP) and albumin plus unbound ('free') D. We investigated the relationship between total and free 25(OH)D with bone metabolism markers in normal (>3.5 g/dl) vs.

Clinician assessments of health status predict mortality in patients with end-stage liver disease awaiting liver transplantation.

Background & Aims: The US liver allocation system effectively prioritizes most liver transplant candidates by disease severity as assessed by the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Yet, one in five dies on the wait-list. We aimed to determine whether clinician assessments of health status could identify this subgroup of patients at higher risk for wait-list mortality.