Self-Recording of Eye Movements in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients Using a Smartphone Eye-Tracking App.

Introduction: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) can affect various eye movements, making eye tracking a potential means for disease monitoring. In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of ALS patients self-recording their eye movements using the "EyePhone," a smartphone eye-tracking application.

Methods: We prospectively enrolled ten participants and provided them with an iPhone equipped with the EyePhone app and a PowerPoint presentation with step-by-step recording instructions.

Stereoelectroencephalography of the Deep Brain: Basal Ganglia and Thalami.

Stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) has emerged as a transformative tool in epilepsy surgery, shedding light on the complex network dynamics involved in focal epilepsy. This review explores the role of SEEG in elucidating the role of deep brain structures, namely the basal ganglia and thalamus, in epilepsy. SEEG advances understanding of their contribution to seizure generation, propagation, and control by permitting precise and minimally invasive sampling of these brain regions.

Non-lesional epilepsy does not necessarily convey poor outcomes after invasive monitoring followed by resection or thermal ablation.

Objective: We aimed to compare outcomes including seizure-free status at the last follow-up in adult patients with medically refractory focal epilepsy identified as lesional vs. non-lesional based on their magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings who underwent invasive evaluation followed by subsequent resection or thermal ablation (LiTT).

Methods: We identified 88 adult patients who underwent intracranial monitoring between 2014 and 2021.

Validity of the flap risk score in predicting nasoseptal flap use after endoscopic transsphenoidal pituitary mass resection.

Introduction: There remains a paucity of literature examining the decision algorithm for use of nasoseptal flap (NSF) after endoscopic endonasal approaches (EEA) to pituitary adenoma resection. In 2018, we published the first ever flap risk score (FRS) to predict the use of NSF. We present here a validity study examining the FRS as applied to our center.

Pro-Ictal State in Human Temporal Lobe Epilepsy.

BACKGROUND: Studies of continuous electroencephalography (EEG) suggest that seizures in individuals with focal-onset epilepsies preferentially occur during periods of heightened risk, typified by pathologic brain activities, termed pro-ictal states; however, the presence of (pathologic) pro-ictal states among a plethora of otherwise physiologic (e.g., sleep–wake cycle) states has not been established.

Postoperative Cerebrospinal Fluid-Related Complications After Posterior Fossa and Posterolateral Skull Base Surgeries: Development of a Predictive Model and Clinical Risk Score.

Background: Postoperative pseudomeningocele (PMC) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak are common complications following posterior fossa and posterolateral skull base surgeries. We sought to 1) determine the rate of CSF-related complications and 2) develop a perioperative model and risk score to identify the highest risk patients for these events.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort of 450 patients undergoing posterior fossa and posterolateral skull base procedures from 2016 to 2020.

Understanding the Effect of Prescription Isodose in Single-Fraction Stereotactic Radiosurgery on Plan Quality and Clinical Outcomes for Solid Brain Metastases.

Background And Objectives: There is wide variation in treatment planning strategy for central nervous system (CNS) stereotactic radiosurgery. We sought to understand what relationships exist between intratumor maximum dose and local control (LC) or CNS toxicity, and dosimetric effects of constraining hotspots on plan quality of multiple metastases volumetric modulated arc therapy radiosurgery plans.

Methods: We captured brain metastases from 2015 to 2017 treated with single-isocenter volumetric modulated arc therapy radiosurgery.

Commissioning and clinical evaluation of the IDENTIFY surface imaging system for frameless stereotactic radiosurgery.

Purpose: To commission and assess the clinical performance of a new commercial surface imaging (SI) system by analyzing intra-fraction motion from the initial cohort of patients treated with frameless stereotactic radiosurgery (fSRS).

Methods: The IDENTIFY SI system was commissioned for clinical use on an Edge (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) linear accelerator. All patients who received intracranial radiotherapy with HyperArc (Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) were immobilized with the Encompass (Qfix, Avondale, PA) thermoplastic mask and monitored for intra-fraction motion with SI.

Reducing stigma triggered by assessing smoking status among patients diagnosed with lung cancer: De-stigmatizing do and don't lessons learned from qualitative interviews.

Objective: To characterize lung cancer patients' reactions to cancer care providers' (CCPs) assessment of smoking behavior and to develop recommendations to reduce stigma and improve patient-clinician communication about smoking in the context of lung cancer care.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews with 56 lung cancer patients (Study 1) and focus groups with 11 lung cancer patients (Study 2) were conducted and analyzed using thematic content analysis.

Results: Three broad themes were identified: cursory questions about smoking history and current behavior; stigma triggered by assessment of smoking behavior; and recommended dos and don'ts for CCPs treating patients with lung cancer.

Association of social determinants of health with late diagnosis and survival of patients with pancreatic cancer.

Background: Pancreatic cancer disparities have been described. However, it is unknown if they contribute to a late diagnosis and survival of patients with metastatic disease. Identifying their role is important as it will open the door for interventions.

Forecasting seizure clusters from chronic ambulatory electrocorticography.

Seizure clusters are seizures that occur in rapid succession during periods of heightened seizure risk and are associated with substantial morbidity and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy. The objective of this feasibility study was to evaluate the performance of a novel seizure cluster forecasting algorithm. Chronic ambulatory electrocorticography recorded over an average of 38 months in 10 subjects with drug-resistant epilepsies was analyzed pseudoprospectively by dividing data into training (first 85%) and validation periods.

Experiences With a Postpartum mHealth Intervention During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Key Informant Interviews Among Patients, Health Care Providers, and Stakeholders.

Background: Maternal morbidity and mortality in the United States continue to be a worsening public health crisis, with persistent racial disparities among Black women during the COVID-19 pandemic. Innovations in mobile health (mHealth) technology are being developed as a strategy to connect birthing women to their health care providers during the first 6 weeks of the postpartum period.

Objective: This study aimed to inform a process to evaluate the barriers to mHealth implementation in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic by exploring the experiences of mothers and stakeholders who were directly involved in the pilot program.

Ictal high-frequency activity in limbic thalamic nuclei varies with electrographic seizure-onset patterns in temporal lobe epilepsy.

Objective: To characterize ictal high-frequency activity (HFA, 80-500 Hz) within the limbic thalami and correlate HFA with seizure onset patterns in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE).

Methods: Patients with TLE undergoing stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG) for presurgical workup were prospectively recruited for electrode implantation in one of the anterior (AN), centromedian (CeM), or mediodorsal (MD) thalamic nuclei. HFA was computed by three complementary methods: (1.

Internalized weight stigma and intuitive eating among stressed adults during a mindful yoga intervention: associations with changes in mindfulness and self-compassion.

Purpose: Internalized weight stigma (IWS) is common in the United States of America across body weight categories, and is implicated in the development of distress and unhealthy eating behaviors (e.g. overeating, disordered eating) that can foster poor cardiometabolic health.

A methodology for identifying high-need, high-cost patient personas for international comparisons.

Objective: To establish a methodological approach to compare two high-need, high-cost (HNHC) patient personas internationally.

Data Sources: Linked individual-level administrative data from the inpatient and outpatient sectors compiled by the International Collaborative on Costs, Outcomes, and Needs in Care (ICCONIC) across 11 countries: Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States.

Study Design: We outline a methodological approach to identify HNHC patient types for international comparisons that reflect complex, priority populations defined by the National Academy of Medicine.

Yoga participation associated with changes in dietary patterns and stress: A pilot study in stressed adults with poor diet.

Background And Purpose: Stress contributes to dietary patterns that impede health. Yoga is an integrative stress management approach associated with improved dietary patterns in burgeoning research. Yet, no research has examined change in dietary patterns, body mass index (BMI), and stress during a yoga intervention among stressed adults with poor diet.

International comparison of spending and utilization at the end of life for hip fracture patients.

Objective: To identify and explore differences in spending and utilization of key health services at the end of life among hip fracture patients across seven developed countries.

Data Sources: Individual-level claims data from the inpatient and outpatient health care sectors compiled by the International Collaborative on Costs, Outcomes, and Needs in Care (ICCONIC).

Study Design: We retrospectively analyzed utilization and spending from acute hospital care, emergency department, outpatient primary care and specialty physician visits, and outpatient drugs.

Association of Teaching Status and Mortality After Cancer Surgery.

Objective: To examine patient outcomes for nine cancer-specific procedures performed in teaching versus non-teaching hospitals.

Summary Background Data: Few contemporary studies have evaluated patient outcomes in teaching versus non-teaching hospitals across a comprehensive set of cancer-specific procedures.

Methods: Use of national Medicare data to compare 30-, 60-, and 90-day mortality rates in teaching and non-teaching hospitals for cancer-specific procedures.

Effect of Superstitious Beliefs and Risk Intuitions on Genetic Test Decisions.

Introduction: Moving beyond numeric representations of risk perceptions, we examine cognitive causation, or superstitious thinking, and negative affect in risk as predictors of (i.e., moderate v.

Within and across country variations in treatment of patients with heart failure and diabetes.

Objective: To compare within-country variation of health care utilization and spending of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and diabetes across countries.

Data Sources: Patient-level linked data sources compiled by the International Collaborative on Costs, Outcomes, and Needs in Care across nine countries: Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and the United States.

Data Collection Methods: Patients were identified in routine hospital data with a primary diagnosis of CHF and a secondary diagnosis of diabetes in 2015/2016.

Differences in health care spending and utilization among older frail adults in high-income countries: ICCONIC hip fracture persona.

Objective: This study explores differences in spending and utilization of health care services for an older person with frailty before and after a hip fracture.

Data Sources: We used individual-level patient data from five care settings.

Study Design: We compared utilization and spending of an older person aged older than 65 years for 365 days before and after a hip fracture across 11 countries and five domains of care as follows: acute hospital care, primary care, outpatient specialty care, post-acute rehabilitative care, and outpatient drugs.

Differences in health outcomes for high-need high-cost patients across high-income countries.

Objective: This study explores variations in outcomes of care for two types of patient personas-an older frail person recovering from a hip fracture and a multimorbid older patient with congestive heart failure (CHF) and diabetes.

Data Sources: We used individual-level patient data from 11 health systems.

Study Design: We compared inpatient mortality, mortality, and readmission rates at 30, 90, and 365 days.

An international comparison of long-term care trajectories and spending following hip fracture.

Objective: The objectives of this study are to compare the relative use of different postacute care settings in different countries and to compare three important outcomes as follows: total expenditure, total days of care in different care settings, and overall longevity over a 1-year period following a hip fracture.

Data Sources: We used administrative data from hospitals, institutional and home-based long-term care (LTC), physician visits, and medications compiled by the International Collaborative on Costs, Outcomes, and Needs in Care (ICCONIC) from five countries as follows: Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Data Extraction Methods: Data were extracted from existing administrative data systems in each participating country.

Healthy days at home: A population-based quality measure for cancer patients at the end of life.

Background: Healthy Days at Home (HDAH) is a novel population-based outcome measure. In this study, its use as a potential measure for cancer patients at the end of life (EOL) was explored.

Methods: Patient demographics and health care use among Medicare beneficiaries with cancer who died over the years 2014 to 2017 were identified.