A Literature Review of Factors Associated With Pain From Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy of Thyroid Nodules.

Objective: Thyroid nodules are common, being detected in 19% to 67% of the population. A fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) is recommended for suspicious thyroid nodules to rule out malignancy; however, the procedure can be painful for subsets of patients. It remains unclear what factors are more likely to be associated with pain during FNAB.

Safety and Clinical Outcomes of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Patients With Cancer and Preexisting Autoimmune Diseases.

Immunotherapy has revolutionized treatment outcomes in numerous cancers. However, clinical trials have largely excluded patients with autoimmune diseases (ADs) due to the risk of AD flares or predilection for developing organ-specific inflammation. The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of immunotherapy in patients with cancer and preexisting ADs.

Analysis of factors affecting Canadian medical students' success in the residency match.

Background: In North America, there is limited data to support deliberate application strategies for post-graduate residency training. There is significant interest in determining what factors play a role in Canadian medical graduate (CMG) matching to their first choice discipline and heightened concern about the number of students going unmatched altogether.

Methods: We analyzed matching outcomes of CMGs based on seven years (2013-2019) of residency application data (= 13,499) from the Canadian Residency Matching Service (CaRMS) database using descriptive and binary logistic regression modeling techniques.

THYROID NODULE GROWTH AS A PREDICTOR OF MALIGNANCY.

To assess which measure of thyroid nodule growth on serial neck ultrasound, if any, is associated with malignancy. Retrospective exploratory chart review of malignant thyroid nodules assessed at Kingston Health Sciences Centre (2006-2016) and benign thyroid nodules (2016), at least 1 cm in diameter and with 2 ultrasounds completed at least 30 days apart. Groups were compared using independent samples Student's test, chi-square test, or Mann-Whitney test as appropriate, as well as multivariable logistic and linear regression modelling to adjust for age and baseline volume.

The efficacy and toxicity of immune checkpoint inhibitors in a real-world older patient population.

Importance: Immunotherapy has emerged as an effective treatment option for the management of advanced cancers. The effects of these immune checkpoint inhibitors in the older patient population has not been adequately assessed.

Objective: To understand the impact of aging on CTLA-4 and PDL-1 inhibitors efficacy and immune-related adverse events (irAE) in the context of real-world management of advanced solid cancers.

Cause of death in patients awaiting bariatric surgery.

Background: Obesity is associated with increased mortality. Bariatric surgery is becoming an important treatment modality for obesity, with an associated reduction in mortality. There are few data available on the incidence and cause of death in referred patients while they are waiting for bariatric surgery.