Utilization of CT for Extremity Cellulitis: A Retrospective Single-Center Analysis.

Purpose: Routine imaging of soft tissue infection is not recommended and represents a potential area of CT overuse. The utility of CT in patients with superficial soft tissue infection of the extremities is unknown. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the utilization and clinical impact of CT ordered in the setting of extremity cellulitis.

PFO Leading to Concomitant Platypnea-Orthodeoxia Syndrome and Stroke.

Platypnea-orthodeoxia syndrome is a rare entity seen in patients with patent foramen ovale, characterized by dyspnea and arterial desaturation in the upright position. We describe a case of a patient who presented with cryptogenic stroke, evidence of right-to-left interatrial shunting, and refractory hypoxemia necessitating closure of his patent foramen ovale.

Comparing Long-Term Prognosis in Chronic Critically Ill Patients: A Case Series Study of Medical versus Surgical Sepsis.

Chronic critical illness (CCI) is a syndrome characterized by persistent organ dysfunction that requires critical care therapy for ≥14 days. Sepsis and respiratory failure constitute the two primary causes of CCI. A better understanding of this patient population and their clinical course may help to risk-stratify them early during hospitalization.

Long-term clinical outcomes in critically ill patients with sepsis and pre-existing low muscle mass: a retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: Critically ill patients with sepsis account for significant disease morbidity and healthcare costs. Low muscle mass has been proposed as an independent risk factor for poor short-term outcomes, although its effect on long-term outcomes remains unclear.

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of patients treated at a quaternary care medical center over 6 years (09/2014 - 12/2020).

Measure of Caregiver Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Knowledge Is Responsive to Decision Aid on Treatment for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.

Objective: Adapt and test a measure of knowledge for caregivers of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and evaluate the impact of the information component of a decision aid (DA) on participant knowledge.

Methods: A set of seven knowledge items were created based on prior knowledge measures and clinical guidelines. As part of a larger cross-sectional survey study of caregivers of children diagnosed with ADHD, caregivers were randomized to one of two arms: 1) a DA arm, where participants reviewed the information component of the Cincinnati Children's Hospital's DA, and 2) a control arm, where participants were not shown a DA.

Shared Decision Making for Elective Surgical Procedures in Older Adults with and without Cognitive Insufficiencies.

Purpose: Older adults are prone to cognitive impairment, which may affect their ability to engage in aspects of shared decision making (SDM) and their ability to complete surveys about the SDM process. This study examined the surgical decision-making processes of older adults with and without cognitive insufficiencies and evaluated the psychometric properties of the SDM Process scale.

Methods: Eligible patients were 65 y or older and scheduled for a preoperative appointment before elective surgery (e.

The clinically relevant CHK1 inhibitor MK-8776 induces the degradation of the oncogenic protein PML-RARα and overcomes ATRA resistance in acute promyelocytic leukemia cells.

Acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) is a hematological disease characterized by the expression of the oncogenic fusion protein PML-RARα. The current treatment approach for APL involves differentiation therapy using all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) and arsenic trioxide (ATO). However, the development of resistance to therapy, occurrence of differentiation syndrome, and relapses necessitate the exploration of new treatment options that induce differentiation of leukemic blasts with low toxicity.

Long-Term Clinical Outcomes in Critically Ill Patients with Sepsis and Pre-existing Sarcopenia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Purpose: Critically ill patients with sepsis account for significant disease morbidity and healthcare costs. Sarcopenia has been proposed as an independent risk factor for poor short-term outcomes, although its effect on long-term outcomes remains unclear.

Methods: Retrospective cohort analysis of patients treated at a tertiary care medical center over 6 years (09/2014 - 12/2020).

Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases after anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccines: new diagnoses and disease flares.

Objective: New-onset immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) and flares of pre-existing IMIDs have been reported following anti- SARS-CoV2 vaccination. Our study aimed at describing a retrospective cohort of patients developing new-onset IMIDs or flares of known IMIDs within 30 days after any anti-SARS-CoV2 vaccine dose.

Methods: We evaluated clinical records of all inpatients and outpatients referring to our institution between February 2021 and February 2022 with any clinical manifestations.

Promoting Informed Decisions About Colorectal Cancer Screening in Older Adults (PRIMED Study): a Physician Cluster Randomized Trial.

Background: For adults aged 76-85, guidelines recommend individualizing decision-making about whether to continue colorectal cancer (CRC) testing. These conversations can be challenging as they need to consider a patient's CRC risk, life expectancy, and preferences.

Objective: To promote shared decision-making (SDM) for CRC testing decisions for older adults.

The Michigan Radiation Oncology Quality Consortium: A Novel Initiative to Improve the Quality of Radiation Oncology Care.

Purpose: Numerous quality measures have been proposed in radiation oncology, and initiatives to improve access to high-complexity care, quality, and equity are needed. We describe the design and evaluate effect of a voluntary statewide collaboration for quality improvement in radiation oncology initiated a decade ago.

Methods And Materials: We evaluate compliance before and since implementation of annual metrics for quality improvement, using an observational data set with information from more than 20,000 patients treated in the 28 participating radiation oncology practices.

Pericarditis after SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Another Pebble in the Mosaic of Long COVID?

With the emerging success of the COVID-19 vaccination programs, the incidence of acute COVID-19 will decrease. However, given the high number of people who contracted SARS-CoV-2 infection and recovered, we will be faced with a significant number of patients with persistent symptoms even months after their COVID-19 infection. In this setting, long COVID and its cardiovascular manifestations, including pericarditis, need to become a top priority for healthcare systems as a new chronic disease process.

Thalassemias: from gene to therapy.

Thalassemias (α, β, γ, δ, δβ, and εγδβ) are the most common genetic disorders worldwide and constitute a heterogeneous group of hereditary diseases characterized by the deficient synthesis of one or more hemoglobin (Hb) chain(s). This leads to the accumulation of unstable non-thalassemic Hb chains, which precipitate and cause intramedullary destruction of erythroid precursors and premature lysis of red blood cells (RBC) in the peripheral blood. Non-thalassemic Hbs display high oxygen affinity and no cooperativity.

Using Standardized Videos to Examine the Validity of the Shared Decision Making Process Scale: Results of a Randomized Online Experiment.

Background: The Shared Decision Making (SDM) Process scale is a brief, patient-reported measure of SDM with demonstrated validity in surgical decision making studies. Herein we examine the validity of the scores in assessing SDM for cancer screening and medication decisions through standardized videos of good-quality and poor-quality SDM consultations.

Method: An online sample was randomized to a clinical decision-colon cancer screening or high cholesterol-and a viewing order-good-quality video first or poor-quality video first.

Contemporary Practice Patterns for Palliative Radiation Therapy of Bone Metastases: Impact of a Quality Improvement Project on Extended Fractionation.

Purpose: Radiation therapy effectively palliates bone metastases, although variability exists in practice patterns. National recommendations advocate against using extended fractionation (EF) with courses greater than 10 fractions. We previously reported EF use of 14.

Undergraduate teaching assistants can provide support for reformed practices to raise student learning.

Graduate students who serve as teaching assistants are a critical part of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) education and research at large universities in the U.S. Yet just like faculty, graduate students are not immune to the publish or perish paradigm, which can compete with one's dedication to teaching.

Recommendations for Single-Fraction Radiation Therapy and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy in Palliative Treatment of Bone Metastases: A Statewide Practice Patterns Survey.

Purpose: Single-fraction (SF) radiation therapy is effective and convenient for patients with painful noncomplex bone metastases. Prior survey results reported a low recommendation of SF radiation therapy in the US. We sought to assess contemporary treatment recommendations for the management of bone metastases among diverse physicians participating in a statewide quality consortium.

Effect of earthworms and plants on the efficiency of vertical flow systems treating university wastewater.

One of the possible ways to improve the operation efficiency of constructed wetlands and to prevent their clogging is the application of earthworms. They have already been successfully applied for vermicomposting and for sludge dewatering and treatment. A few studies have already examined the effect of earthworms on the treatment of wastewater by vertical flow constructed wetlands (VFCWs), but none of them have provided a yearlong research result from an open-air system or compared the effect that different seasons in a temperate climate area can have on these invertebrates.

Chemoradiation after FOLFIRINOX for borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Background: The safety and efficacy of FOLFIRINOX (FX) followed by consolidative chemoradiation (CRT) in borderline resectable (BRPC) and locally advanced pancreatic cancer (LAPC) has not been extensively studied. We sought to evaluate outcomes and toxicities of this regimen.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed of 33 patients with BRPC or LAPC treated with FX followed by CRT.

Contemporary Statewide Practice Pattern Assessment of the Palliative Treatment of Bone Metastasis.

Purpose: Palliative radiation therapy for bone metastases is often viewed as a single entity, despite national guidelines providing input principally only for painful uncomplicated bone metastases. Data surrounding the treatment of bone metastases are often gleaned from questionnaires of what providers would theoretically do in practice or from population-based data lacking critical granular information. We investigated the real-world treatment of bone metastases with radiation therapy.