Medicare part D prescribing for direct oral anticoagulants in the United States: Cost, use and the "rubber effect".

Introduction: Direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) have gained an increased share over warfarin for prevention and treatment of thromboembolic disease. We studied DOAC adoption across providers and medical specialties.

Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis of Medicare Part D public use files (PUF), 2013 to 2015.

Proton Density Fat Suppressed MRI in 3T Increases the Sensitivity of Multiple Sclerosis Lesion Detection in the Cervical Spinal Cord.

Purpose: Considering the number of multiple sclerosis (MS) patients referred for clinical spinal cord imaging, the optimization of imaging protocols plays a crucial role. We aimed to evaluate the use of proton density (PD) turbo spin-echo (TSE) with spectral attenuated inversion recovery (SPAIR) fat suppression and compare it with the currently recommended T2-TSE-SPAIR in sagittal plane in cervical spinal cord imaging.

Methods: In this study 35 MS patients with clinically suspected or known spinal cord lesions were scanned on a 3.

Thermal ablation may improve outcomes in patients with colorectal liver metastasis: a case-control study.

Purpose: Local thermal ablation may extend the scope of palliative therapy in patients with colorectal liver metastasis. We performed a retrospective, case-controlled study to compare patients with colorectal liver metastases that were treated with percutaneous radiofrequency (RF) or microwave (MW) thermal ablation, against the control group of chemotherapy alone.

Methods: We described baseline demographics, ablation sessions, procedure duration and related complications.

FcγRIIa-H131R variant is associated with inferior response in diffuse large B cell lymphoma: A meta-analysis of genetic risk.

Purpose: Low-affinity variants FcγRIIIa-V158F and FcγRIIa- H131R may alter response to rituximab-based chemotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) but available clinical evidence is inconclusive. Our purpose was to explore their association in terms of treatment response.

Methods: We performed a meta-analysis of published literature to associate these variants with complete remission after upfront immunochemotherapy in DLBCL, and summarized the genetic risk using the model-free approach of generalized odds ratio (OR).

Evaluating cognitive models of visual word recognition using fMRI: Effects of lexical and sublexical variables.

In this study predictions of the dual-route cascaded (DRC) model of word reading were tested using fMRI. Specifically, patterns of co-localization were investigated: (a) between pseudoword length effects and a pseudowords vs. fixation contrast, to reveal the sublexical grapho-phonemic conversion (GPC) system; and (b) between word frequency effects and a words vs.

Thrombophilia and venous thromboembolism in pregnancy: a meta-analysis of genetic risk.

Three common polymorphic variants, namely Factor V Leiden (FVL), Prothrombin G20210A (PT G20210A) and Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (MTHFR) C677T are candidate genes for venous thromboembolism (VTE) in pregnancy. We performed a literature review and meta-analysis of pertinent genetic association studies (GAS) in pregnancy, to quantify the genetic risk of VTE in pregnancy. We used the model-free approach of generalized odds ratio (ORG) to estimate gene-to-disease association and explored the mode of inheritance using the degree of dominance h index.

Percutaneous microwave ablation vs radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hepatocellular cancer ranks fifth among cancers and is related to chronic viral hepatitis, alcohol abuse, steatohepatitis and liver autoimmunity. Surgical resection and orthotopic liver transplantation have curative potential, but fewer than 20% of patients are suitable candidates. Interventional treatments are offered to the vast majority of patients.

CT-guided radiofrequency tumor ablation in children.

Background: Image-guided radiofrequency ablation is a well-accepted technique of interventional oncology in adults.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of CT-guided radiofrequency ablation as a minimally invasive treatment for metastatic neoplasms in children.

Materials And Methods: A total of 15 radiofrequency ablation sessions were performed in 12 children and young adults (median age 9.

FDG PET is a robust tool for the diagnosis of spondylodiscitis: a meta-analysis of diagnostic data.

Purpose: Spondylodiscitis is a rare infectious entity that requires multimodal diagnostic procedures. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of 18F-FDG PET on suspected spondylodiscitis based on published literature.

Patients And Methods: We searched the PubMed and EMBASE for pertinent studies up to July 2013.

Computed tomography-guided needle aspiration and biopsy of pulmonary lesions: a single-center experience in 1000 patients.

Background: Computed tomography (CT)-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and biopsies are well-established, minimally invasive diagnostic tools for pulmonary lesions.

Purpose: To analyze retrospectively the results of 1000 consecutive lung CT-guided FNA and/or core needle biopsies (CNB), the main outcome measures being diagnostic yield, and complication rates.

Material And Methods: Patients considered eligible were those referred to our department for lung lesions.

FDG-PET for detecting local tumor recurrence of ablated liver metastases: a diagnostic meta-analysis.

Context: Scanty reports have focused on FDG-PET after radiofrequency ablation (RFA), for recurrence of hepatic metastases.

Objective: To assess FDG-PET diagnostic accuracy on detection of recurrent hepatic lesions.

Methods: After a comprehensive search of PubMed and EMBASE, we performed a patient-based diagnostic meta-analysis of post-RFA FDG-PET.

The Gordian knot of interim 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography for Hodgkin lymphoma: a meta-analysis and commentary on published studies.

We assessed the diagnostic performance of interim 18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) with regard to the final outcome of adult patients with newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The predefined outcome was treatment failure at the end of follow-up. Bivariate meta-analysis of diagnostic data was used to calculate combined (pooled) estimates.

Percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for unresectable colorectal liver metastases: time for shadows to disperse.

Background: Despite the advent of combination chemotherapy regimens achieved within the last decade, long term survival of patients with unresectable metastatic disease from colorectal cancer remains poor. Thermal ablation procedures, including radiofrequency ablation (RFA), are considered feasible options in treating unresectable hepatic tumors either primary (hepatocellular carcinoma) or metastatic, the latter mainly arising from colorectal cancer. Percutaneous access is the least invasive RFA procedure.

Unifying the predictive value of pretransplant FDG PET in patients with lymphoma: a review and meta-analysis of published trials.

Purpose: The predictive value of (18)F-FDG PET in patients with relapsing/refractory lymphoma who are receiving high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation(ASCT) remains a matter of debate. Seminal reports on pretransplant ASCT indicated an adverse prognosis in patients with positive FDG PET scans. The lack of a uniform outcome measure along with the mixed histologies in various studies have hampered efforts to quantify this prognostic value.

Image-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of unresectable hepatic tumors using a triple-spiral-shaped electrode needle: initial experience in 34 patients.

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of image-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using a triple-spiral-shaped electrode needle for unresectable primary or metastatic hepatic tumors. Thirty-four patients with 46 index tumors were treated. Ablation zone, morbidity, and complications were assessed.

Image-guided radiofrequency ablation of a pancreatic tumor with a new triple spiral-shaped electrode.

Image-guided, minimally invasive treatment modalities have become an area of considerable interest and research during the last few years for the treatment of primary and secondary liver tumors. We report our experience with an unresectable pancreatic tumor, treated with application of radiofrequency ablation under CT guidance that even though a complication occurred during the procedure, had excellent results on follow-up CT scans.

Thrombosis in paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria at a glance: a clinical review.

Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a rare, acquired stem cell disorder, with its primary clinical manifestations being hemolytic anemia, marrow failure and thrombophilia. Chronic hemolysis, failures of the fibrinolytic system, increased leukocyte-derived tissue factor levels in plasma, procoagulant microparticles generated through complement-mediated damage of platelets and venous endothelium are related to the acquired hypercoagulable state. Visceral thrombosis (including hepatic veins and mesenteric veins), cerebrovascular events and pulmonary embolism predict a poor outcome.

FDG PET scan strategies and long-term outcomes after first-line therapy in Hodgkin's disease.

Background: The use of positron emission tomography with fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG PET) in Hodgkin's disease (HD) is continuing to expand worldwide, with response assessment after completion of therapy being its most widely utilized application. A positive scan has been associated with high relapse rates and disease progression.

Methods: A decision analysis was performed to determine the long-term impact of FDG PET restaging both with and without computed tomography (CT) in terms of the 5-year progression-free survival (5yrPFS).

Feasibility of CT-guided percutaneous needle biopsy in early diagnosis of BOOP.

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia (BOOP) is a nonneoplastic, noninfectious lung disease with a diverse spectrum of imaging abnormalities and nonspecific symptoms diagnosed by open lung biopsy, transbronchial biopsy, and/or video-assisted thoracoscopy. The objective of this study was to retrospectively assess the role of percutaneous computed tomography (CT)-guided biopsy in early diagnosis of the disorder. Fourteen BOOP cases diagnosed by CT-guided biopsy were analyzed in terms of imaging abnormalities and complication rate.