Vascular Anastomoses and Dissection: A Six-Part Simulation Curriculum for Surgical Residents.

Introduction: As surgical technologies grow, so too do demands on surgical trainees to master increasing numbers of skill sets. With the rise of endovascular surgery, trainees have fewer opportunities to practice open vascular techniques in the operating room. Simulation can bridge this gap.

Assessment of Surgeon Performance of Advanced Open Surgical Skills Using a Microskills-Based Novel Curriculum.

Importance: The increase in minimally invasive surgical procedures has eroded exposure of general surgery residents to open operations. High-fidelity simulation, together with deliberate instruction, is needed for advanced open surgical skill (AOSS) development.

Objective: To collect validity evidence for AOSS tools to support a shared model for instruction.

Eptifibatide bridging therapy for staged carotid artery stenting and cardiac surgery: Safety and feasibility.

Background: Prophylactic carotid artery stenting (CAS) is an effective strategy to reduce perioperative stroke in patients with severe carotid stenosis who require cardiothoracic surgery (CTS). Staging both procedures (CAS-CTS) during a single hospitalization presents conflicting demands for antiplatelet therapy and the optimal pharmacologic strategy between procedures is not established. The purpose of this study is to present our initial experience with a "bridging" protocol for staged CAS-CTS.

Mild anemia as a single independent predictor of mortality in patients with COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has led to an unprecedented international health crisis. COVID-19 clinical presentations cover a wide range from asymptomatic to severe illness and death. Given the limited therapeutic resources and unexpected clinical features of the disease, readily accessible predictive biomarkers are urgently needed to improve patient care and management.

Post-9/11 excess risk of thyroid cancer: Surveillance or exposure?

An excess risk of thyroid cancer has been reported in different World Trade Center (WTC)-dust exposed cohorts. Increased surveillance of these cohorts has been suggested as a potential explanation of this reported excess thyroid cancer risk leading to an increased diagnosis of earlier-stage thyroid cancers. However, the uncertainty to what extent surveillance or physician bias may be contributing to the reported incidence of thyroid cancer in WTC-dust exposed populations remains, highlighting the need to investigate a potential causal link between WTC dust exposure and thyroid cancer.

Changes in E-Cigarette Perceptions Over Time: A National Youth Tobacco Survey Analysis.

Introduction: This multiyear, cross-sectional study explores the changes over time in how U.S. middle- and high-school students perceive the harm and addiction risk of E-cigarettes.

Clinical Course of Cancer Patients With COVID-19: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background: Complications in cancer patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have not been examined. This analysis aimed to compare characteristics of COVID-19 patients with and without cancer and assess whether cancer is associated with COVID-19 morbidity or mortality.

Methods: COVID-19-positive patients with an inpatient or emergency encounter at the Mount Sinai Health System between March 1, 2020, and May 27, 2020, were included and compared across cancer status on demographics and clinical characteristics.

Prevalence of Cytopenia in the General Population-A National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Analysis.

Background: Cytopenia, a reduced count of blood cells manifesting as anemia, neutropenia, and/or thrombocytopenia is frequently associated with other medical conditions. However, a cytopenia may not be accompanied by a known determinant and in some of these cases, may be a precursor to pre-malignancies or hematologic cancers. Little is known about the prevalence of these unexplained cytopenias and their distribution in the population.

Disparities in Surgical Recommendation for Stage I Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Objectives: Sociodemographic disparities in lung cancer prevalence, treatment options offered, and outcomes have been well documented. In stage I non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the standard of care is surgical resection. This study explores disparities in surgical recommendations in stage I NSCLC, when surgery is considered curative.

Serum cotinine levels and nicotine addiction potential of e-cigarettes: an NHANES analysis.

This study aims to compare serum cotinine levels in e-cigarette and combustible cigarette smokers, in an attempt to quantify the potential chronic nicotine addiction risk that e-cigarettes pose. We analyzed 428 participants in 2015-2016 NHANES: 379 (87.03%) smoked combustible cigarettes alone and 49 (12.

Disparities in surgery for early-stage cancer: the impact of refusal.

Background: For early-stage cancer surgery is often curative, yet refusal of recommended surgical interventions may be contributing to disparities in patient treatment. This study aims to assess predictors of early-stage cancers surgery refusal, and the impact on survival.

Methods: Patients recommended surgery with primary stage I and II lung, prostate, breast, and colon cancers, diagnosed between 2007-2014, were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database (n = 498,927).

Vascular inflammation in a growing iliac artery aneurysm.

We have used a multimodality imaging approach to assess the inflammatory component of a growing iliac artery aneurysm in a 53-year-old man who presented with related ureteral obstruction. Research suggests that episodic and heterogeneous inflammatory processes are important for the progression of aneurysms. The combined PET and MRI evaluation of inflammation that we present here is a novel approach to vascular imaging that is well suited for emerging hybrid PET/MRI systems.

Ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography is a feasible method for the clinical evaluation of lower extremity arterial disease.

Background: Renal toxicity from conventional, iodinated, intravenous contrast agents is a common complication in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Similarly, the potential for serious side effects prevents the use of gadolinium-based agents in many patients with depressed renal function. Ferumoxytol-enhanced magnetic resonance angiography (Fe-MRA) is a novel technique that uses an intravenous, ultrasmall, superparamagnetic, iron oxide preparation, currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia in adults with chronic kidney disease.

Vitamin D deficiency is associated with mortality and adverse vascular access outcomes in patients with end-stage renal disease.

Background: Plasma 25 hydroxycholecalciferol (vitamin D) deficiency has been associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes in epidemiologic studies. Chronic kidney disease is associated with loss of 1α-hydroxylase and consequently vitamin D deficiency. We hypothesized that vitamin D deficiency was associated with increased mortality and increased vascular access failure in patients undergoing permanent vascular access for end-stage renal disease.

Inducible ApoE gene repair in hypomorphic ApoE mice deficient in the low-density lipoprotein receptor promotes atheroma stabilization with a human-like lipoprotein profile.

Objective: To study atherosclerosis regression in mice after plasma lipid reduction to moderately elevated apolipoprotein B (apoB)-lipoprotein levels.

Approach And Results: Chow-fed hypomorphic Apoe mice deficient in low-density lipoprotein receptor expression (Apoe(h/h)Ldlr(-/-)Mx1-cre mice) develop hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. These mice were studied before and after inducible cre-mediated Apoe gene repair.

Assessing the anatomic applicability of the multibranched endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm technique.

Background: Multibranched endovascular aneurysm repair (MBEVAR) has the potential to lower the morbidity and mortality rates of thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair, but the applicability of the technique is unknown. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of anatomic suitability for MBEVAR.

Methods: Retrospective review of patients referred for a prospective trial of MBEVAR between November 2005 and July 2012.

Macrophage-specific apoE gene repair reduces diet-induced hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis in hypomorphic Apoe mice.

Background: Apolipoprotein (apo) E is best known for its ability to lower plasma cholesterol and protect against atherosclerosis. Although the liver is the major source of plasma apoE, extra-hepatic sources of apoE, including from macrophages, account for up to 10% of plasma apoE levels. This study examined the contribution of macrophage-derived apoE expression levels in diet-induced hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis.

Efficacy and durability of endovascular thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair using the caudally directed cuff technique.

Objective: This study determined early and intermediate results of multibranched endovascular thoracoabdominal (TAAA) and pararenal aortic aneurysm (PRAA) repair using a uniform operative technique.

Methods: Eighty-one patients (mean age, 73 ± 8 years, 19 [23.5%] women) underwent endovascular TAAA repair in a prospective trial using self-expanding covered stents connecting axially oriented, caudally directed cuffs to target aortic branches.

Apolipoprotein E4 domain interaction accelerates diet-induced atherosclerosis in hypomorphic Arg-61 apoe mice.

Objective: Apolipoprotein (apo) E4 is an established risk factor for atherosclerosis, but the structural components underlying this association remain unclear. ApoE4 is characterized by 2 biophysical properties: domain interaction and molten globule state. Substituting Arg-61 for Thr-61 in mouse apoE introduces domain interaction without molten globule state, allowing us to delineate potential proatherogenic effects of domain interaction in vivo.

Polyunsaturated fatty acids and peripheral artery disease.

There is substantial evidence that polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) such as n-3 and n-6 fatty acids (FAs) play an important role in prevention of atherosclerosis. In vitro and in vivo studies focusing on the interactions between monocytes and endothelial cells have explored the molecular effects of FAs on these interactions. Epidemiological surveys, followed by large, randomized, control trials have demonstrated a reduction in major cardiovascular events with supplementation of n-3 FAs in secondary prevention settings.