Phase II Trial of Pembrolizumab in Combination With Bevacizumab for Untreated Melanoma Brain Metastases.

Purpose: Anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy enhances PD-1 inhibitor activity in preclinical models and has been used to treat perilesional cerebral edema and radiation necrosis.

Methods: We conducted a two-institution phase II trial of bevacizumab and pembrolizumab in patients with untreated melanoma brain metastasis (MBM) (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02681549).

Dysfunctional β-cell autophagy induces β-cell stress and enhances islet immunogenicity.

Background: Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors that trigger autoimmune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells. Defects in β-cell stress response pathways such as autophagy may play an important role in activating and/or exacerbating the immune response in disease development. Previously, we discovered that β-cell autophagy is impaired prior to the onset of T1D, implicating this pathway in T1D pathogenesis.

The Role of Sociodemographics in Pediatric, Adolescent and Young Adult Osteosarcoma: A Population Based Study.

Background: In our population-based study, we examine the impact of patient demographics on disease presentation, treatment and survival for children, adolescents, and young adults with osteosarcoma.

Methods: Patient data was downloaded from The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Cases included patients ages 0-24 years who were diagnosed with osteosarcoma between 2004 and 2020.

Evaluating Surgeon-influenced Factors for Total Knee Arthroplasty Value-based Reimbursement.

Introduction: Clinical outcome measures used under value-based reimbursement models require risk stratification of patient demographics and medical history. Only certain perioperative patient factors may be influenced by the surgeon. The study evaluated surgeon-influenced modifiable factors associated with achieving literature-defined KOOS score thresholds to serve as the foundation of the newly established alternative payment models for total knee arthroplasties (TKA).