Outcomes of upfront primary tumor resection in patients with synchronous wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer.

This multicenter study explored the survival benefits of upfront primary tumor resection (PTR) followed by first-line cetuximab plus chemotherapy in real-world patients with wild-type metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). Treatment options for mCRC include chemotherapy, targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and surgery. The efficacy of upfront PTR in managing mCRC remains unclear.

Predicting Mortality and Hospitalization in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction by Using Machine Learning.

Background: Few studies have incorporated echocardiography and laboratory data to predict clinical outcomes in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Objectives: This study aimed to use machine learning to find predictors of heart failure (HF) hospitalization and cardiovascular (CV) death in HFpEF.

Methods: From the Chang Gung Research Database in Taiwan, 6,092 HFpEF patients (2,898 derivation, 3,194 validation) identified between 2008 and 2017 were followed until 2019.

Comparing immunotherapy effectiveness for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma: infiltrative versus non-infiltrative types in real-world settings.

Background: Infiltrative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is often associated with an unfavorable prognosis, posing a challenge in determining the optimal therapeutic approach. Immunotherapy, employing immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), has become a preferred first-line treatment for advanced HCC. However, the overall effectiveness of ICIs in patients with infiltrative HCC remains unclear.

The MRI-based vertebral bone quality score is a predictor of pedicle screw loosening following instrumented posterior lumbar fusion.

Objective: To investigate the predictive ability of the MRI-based vertebral bone quality (VBQ) score for pedicle screw loosening following instrumented transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF).

Methods: Data from patients who have received one or two-level instrumented TLIF from February 2014 to March 2015 were retrospectively collected. Pedicle screw loosening was diagnosed when the radiolucent zone around the screw exceeded 1 mm in plain radiographs.

Carbohydrate Mouth Rinsing Improves Softball Launch Angle Consistency: A Double-Blind Crossover Study.

(1) Background: Carbohydrate mouth rinsing (CMR) stimulates the central nervous system and improves motor control. However, no studies have examined the effects of CMR on softball batting performance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of CMR on softball batting performance.