Multicenter evaluation of the impact of COVID-19 on the uptake of endoscopic skills by gastroenterology trainees.

Background And Aims: The COVID-19 pandemic significantly decreased procedural volume in 2020, thus limiting training opportunities. First-year fellows (1YF) are particularly susceptible to reduction in endoscopic volume as they build foundational endoscopic skills. We used an objective validated tool, the Assessment of Competency in Endoscopy (ACE), to determine the effect of the pandemic on endoscopy competency in gastroenterology fellows.

Intraoperative Supine Breast MRI for Residual Tumor Assessment after Breast-Conserving Therapy in Early-Stage Breast Cancer.

Purpose To evaluate the diagnostic performance of intraoperative supine MRI (isMRI) in identifying residual tumor burden immediately after breast-conserving therapy (BCT). Materials and Methods This single-institution prospective study (April 2012-December 2022) included 43 consecutive participants with stage 0-II breast cancer. Three participants with multicentric disease were excluded from the final analysis.

Accuracy of Visual Estimation for Measuring Colonic Polyp Size: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Measurement of colorectal polyps is typically performed via visual estimation, which is prone to bias. Studies have evaluated the accuracy of visual estimation and utility of assistive tools, but results have been mixed. This study aims to clarify the accuracy of visual estimation as a measurement tool, and the benefits of artificial intelligence.

Meta-analysis: The utility of the anterior quadratus lumborum block in abdominal surgery.

Background: Regional anesthesia is routinely used in Enhanced Recovery After Surgery pathways to improve post-operative recovery times. No consensus has been reached on optimal block type. This study reviews the current literature as it pertains to the anterior quadratus lumborum (aQL) block in all abdominal surgeries, as well as its efficacy compared to the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block.

Development of a smartphone enabled, paper-based quantitative diagnostic assay using the HueDx color correction system.

Color correction is an important methodology where a digital image's colors undergo a transformation to more accurately represent their appearance using a predefined set of illumination conditions. Colorimetric measurements in diagnostics are sensitive to very small changes in colors and therefore require consistent, reproducible illumination conditions to produce accurate results, making color correction a necessity. This paper presents an image color correction pipeline developed by HueDx, Inc.

National Patterns of Hospital Admission Versus Home Recovery Following Mastectomy for Breast Cancer.

Background: We examined national patterns of care and perioperative outcomes for women after mastectomy, comparing home recovery (HR) with hospital admission.

Patients And Methods: Using Martketscan data (2017-2019), women ≥ 18 years old who underwent mastectomy ± reconstruction were identified and classified as either home recovery (same calendar day discharge) or hospital admission (stays > 1 calendar day). Comorbidities and receipt of chemo/immunotherapy 6 months prior to surgery and post-surgical 30-day complications were measured.

Heart Healthy Routines in Young Children With Sesame Workshop: A Qualitative Study of Latina Mothers With Economic Hardship.

Objective: To explore how Sesame Workshop resources are perceived by Latino families with economic hardship and to highlight approaches for early heart healthy routine promotion.

Methods: We performed a purposive sampling of Latina mothers (n = 40) with young children experiencing economic hardship. Using an interview guide informed by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research, we recorded Spanish and English semistructured interviews, which were translated and transcribed verbatim.

Incidence of Pathologic Nodal Disease in Clinically Node-Negative, Microinvasive or T1a Breast Cancers.

Background: Axillary staging in early-stage breast cancer can impact adjuvant treatment options but also has associated morbidity. The incidence of pathologic nodal positivity (pN+) in patients with microinvasive or T1a disease is poorly characterized and the value of sentinel node biopsy remains controversial.

Methods: Women with cN0 and pathologic microinvasive or T1a cancer who underwent upfront surgery were identified from the National Cancer Database.

Feasibility and Usability of EnergyPoints: A Mobile Health App to Guide Acupressure Use for Cancer Symptom Management.

Objective: To examine the feasibility and usability of EnergyPoints™, an innovative mobile health app that teaches and guides people with cancer to implement daily acupressure to self-manage their fatigue and sleep disturbances.

Methods And Intervention: The study used an integrated agile, human-centered approach. Adults (age 18 years and over) with cancer experiencing at least moderate fatigue, and living in the Greater New York City community, were recruited from social media, patient advocacy groups, and referrals.

Core Needle Biopsies as an Alternative Source for Ex Vivo Expanded TIL for Adoptive Cell Therapy in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

Adoptive transfer of ex vivo expanded tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) have produced long-term response in metastatic cancers. TILs have traditionally been expanded from surgically resected specimens. Ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (CNB) is an alternative method that avoids the morbidity of surgery and have added benefits which may include patients not amenable to surgery as well as the potential to produce TILs from multiple lesions in the same patient.

Supporting early childhood routines to promote cardiovascular health across the life course.

Optimal cardiovascular health is an essential component of human health and well-being across the life course. Heart healthy practices around diet, physical activity, and sleep early in childhood have the potential to greatly improve lifespan and quality (Mehta et al., 2020).

Neoadjuvant Immunotherapy in Early, Triple-Negative Breast Cancers: Catching Up with the Rest.

Despite breast cancer being long thought to be "immunologically cold," within early, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), there has been exciting advances with the use of immune checkpoint modulation combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. We review the major trials that have investigated combination immunochemotherapy in the neoadjuvant setting, reviewing both the pathological complete response rates and the maturing data regarding event-free and overall survival. Strategies to deescalate adjuvant therapy in patients with preserving excellent clinical outcome, as well as exploration of combinatorial adjuvant therapies to improve outcome in those with extensive residual are the next-generation challenges.

Breast Cancer Screening: Is There Room for De-escalation?

Purpose Of Review: Breast cancer screening is highly controversial and different agencies have widely varying guidelines. Yet it is currently used extensively in the USA and frequently the thought is "the more, the better." The purpose of this review is to objectively assess the risks and benefits of screening mammography and consider whether there may be areas where it could be de-escalated.

Pilot Study: The Queen Square Screening Test for Visual Deficits in Dementia.

The Queen Square Screening Test for Visual Deficits (QS test) screens for changes in visual processing. Our pilot study aimed to review the applicability of the QS test in individuals with dementia compared with those with normal cognition. Participants with major and minor neurocognitive disorder scored 50/71 (n=12) and 61/71 (n=10) respectively on the QS test, compared to 65/71 for age-matched healthy controls (n=11).

Association of Protein Z with Prediabetes and Type 2 Diabetes.

Background: Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive metabolic disease. Early detection of prediabetes is important to reduce the risk of T2DM. Some cytokines are known to be associated with T2DM.

Ferroportin 3 is a dual-targeted mitochondrial/chloroplast iron exporter necessary for iron homeostasis in Arabidopsis.

Mitochondria and chloroplasts are organelles with high iron demand that are particularly susceptible to iron-induced oxidative stress. Despite the necessity of strict iron regulation in these organelles, much remains unknown about mitochondrial and chloroplast iron transport in plants. Here, we propose that Arabidopsis ferroportin 3 (FPN3) is an iron exporter that is dual-targeted to mitochondria and chloroplasts.

GSK3B induces autophagy by phosphorylating ULK1.

Unc-51-like autophagy activating kinase 1 (ULK1), a mammalian homolog of the yeast kinase Atg1, has an essential role in autophagy induction. In nutrient and growth factor signaling, ULK1 activity is regulated by various posttranslational modifications, including phosphorylation, acetylation, and ubiquitination. We previously identified glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3B) as an upstream regulator of insulin withdrawal-induced autophagy in adult hippocampal neural stem cells.

Trends in Real-World Neovascular AMD Treatment Outcomes in the UK.

Purpose: To report trends in real-world outcomes of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapy for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) in the United Kingdom (UK) over the last decade.

Design: Systematic review.

Methods: Medline, PubMed, and Embase databases were searched from 9 April 2010 to 8 April 2020 for publications that met the inclusion criteria: treatment-naïve eyes, UK-only data and ≥1 year of follow-up.