HDR brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy for unfavorable localized prostate cancer: A single center experience from inception to standard of care.

Purpose: High dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy is increasingly adopted for dose escalation in prostate cancer treatment. We report the clinical efficacy and toxicity of HDR prostate brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and evaluate the predictability of the biochemical definition of cure of 4-year PSA ≤0.2 ng/mL for failure free survival (FFS).

Evaluation of osseointegration of plasma treated polyaryletherketone maxillofacial implants.

Osseointegration is a crucial property of biomaterials used for bone defect repair. While titanium is the gold standard in craniofacial surgeries, various polymeric biomaterials are being explored as alternatives. However, polymeric materials can be bioinert, hindering integration with surrounding tissues.

Healthcare Costs Across Diabetic Kidney Disease Stages: A Veterans Affairs Study.

Background: In the United States, diabetic kidney disease (DKD) affects about one-third of individuals with type 2 diabetes, causing significant economic burdens on the health care system and affecting patients' quality of life.

Objective: The aim of the study was to quantify the burden of care in patients at different stages of DKD and to monitor shifts in healthcare costs throughout these stages.

Methods: This study used data from the Veterans Affairs National database, focusing on US veterans diagnosed with DKD between January 2016 and March 2022.