Comparative efficacy and tolerability of ublituximab vs. other monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of relapsing multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and network meta-analysis of randomized trials.

Background: Relapsing multiple sclerosis (RMS) is a chronic, inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. Ublituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb), is indicated for the treatment of RMS. We performed a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify randomized trials reporting the clinical efficacy and tolerability of ublituximab or comparator disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for treatment of RMS, and assessed their comparative effects using network meta-analysis (NMA).

Delayed Corneal Healing After the Use of Topical Ophthalmic Anesthetics.

Topical anesthetics for control of pain from corneal abrasions can cause drug-related toxicity that delays corneal healing. This report documents three cases where topical anesthetic drops were prescribed in the emergency department for pain control, after which patients developed persistent ocular pain, epithelial toxicity with impaired healing, and significant loss of vision. On consultation with the ophthalmology service, each patient was instructed to discontinue the topical anesthetic drops but to continue topical antibiotics.

In a pickle: Cases of pickleball related ocular injuries.

Purpose: Although musculoskeletal involvement is the common presentation, studies have reported the incidence of sports related ocular trauma. Here we present the case reports of two patients who sustained injury in one of the fast growing sports - the pickleball, during play without eye protection.

Observations: Two patients with history of injury during pickleball play presented to our clinic with varying spectrum of ocular presentations.

Malignant Epiretinal Membrane After Proton Beam Radiation of Ciliary Body Melanoma.

Purpose: To report the development of malignant epiretinal membrane after radiation of ciliary body melanoma.

Case Report: A 65-year-old woman was referred for evaluation of a ciliary body tumor in her right eye. On examination, a pigmented ciliary body tumor, displacing the iris anteriorly, was visible superotemporally and ultrasound biomicroscopy revealed a large solid ciliary body tumor.

Multimodal imaging risk factors predictive of small choroidal melanocytic lesion growth to melanoma: An educational study and pictorial guide.

Background: Risk factors for small choroidal melanocytic lesion growth to melanoma have been redefined using multimodal imaging. We explored provider ability to recognize risk factors for small choroidal melanocytic lesion growth to melanoma before and after image-based education and with and without multimodal imaging.

Methods: Providers were invited to participate in a survey assessing ability to identify risk factors for small choroidal melanocytic lesion growth to melanoma using either fundus imaging or multimodal imaging.

Cost-Utility Analysis of the Caresyntax Platform to Identify Patients at Risk of Surgical Site Infection Undergoing Colorectal Surgery.

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) account for up to 18% of all healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). The Caresyntax data-driven surgery platform incorporates the most common risk factors for SSI, to identify high-risk surgical patients before they leave the operating theatre and treat them prophylactically with negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT). An economic analysis was performed to assess the costs and health outcomes associated with introduction of the technology in the English healthcare setting.

Gastrointestinal, hepatic, and pancreatobiliary involvement by plasma cell neoplasms: clinicopathologic correlations in a retrospective cohort of 116 cases.

Aims: Plasma cell neoplasms (PCNs) may involve the gastrointestinal (GI) tract in two forms: plasmacytoma (PC), an isolated lesion that lacks marrow involvement, and extramedullary myeloma (EMM). However, previous literature on PCNs involving the GI tract, liver, and pancreas is limited. We evaluated the clinicopathologic features of the largest series of GI PCNs to date.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of a Medial Meniscus Replacement Prosthesis for the Treatment of Patients with Medial Compartment Pain in the United Kingdom.

Background: The most common intra-articular knee injury is a meniscal tear, which commonly occurs secondary to trauma following twisting or hyperflexion. Treatment options for meniscal tears can either be surgical or non-surgical, and range from rest, exercise, bracing and physical therapy to surgical intervention, including meniscal repair and partial meniscectomy. In patients with persistent pain following loss of meniscus tissue, treatment can include partial replacement or meniscal allograft transplantation.

DyeVert Contrast Reduction System Use in Patients Undergoing Coronary and/or Peripheral Angiography: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Contrast-associated acute kidney injury (CA-AKI) is an important adverse effect associated with injecting iodinated intra-arterial contrast media (CM) during coronary angiography. The DyeVert™ Contrast Reduction System is a medical device intended to reduce the intra-arterial CM volume (CMV) administered. The aim of this study was to assess DyeVert System clinical effectiveness and safety by implementing a systematic review and meta-analysis of existing evidence.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Intravascular Targeted Temperature Management after Cardiac Arrest in England.

Background: Targeted temperature management (TTM) has been shown to improve neurological outcomes and survival in patients resuscitated from cardiac arrest; however, the cost effectiveness of multiple TTM methods is not well studied.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the cost effectiveness of intravascular temperature management (IVTM) using Thermogard XP compared with surface cooling methods after cardiac arrest in the England from the perspectives of the UK national health service and Personal Social Services.

Methods: We developed a multi-state Markov model that evaluated IVTM (Thermogard XP) compared with surface cooling using two different devices (Blanketrol III and Arctic Sun 5000) over a short-term and lifetime time horizon.

Intestinal T-cell lymphoma: A rare entity presenting with severe acute upper quadrant pain.

Primary gastrointestinal T-cell lymphomas are rare. Presenting symptoms can be non-specific, and imaging studies can show overlap with nonmalignant processes. Definitive diagnosis requires clinical suspicion and histologic evaluation with ancillary studies for appropriate disease classification and therapeutic intervention.

Diagnosing Vitreoretinal Lymphomas-An Analysis of the Sensitivity of Existing Tools.

Vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL) is a rare ocular pathology that is notorious for mimicking chronic uveitis, which is a seemingly benign condition in comparison. The most common form of VRL is the diffuse large B-cell type, and there has been a high mortality rate. This dismal prognosis can be improved significantly if the disease is diagnosed early, but until now there is no consensus on an appropriate diagnostic algorithm.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) in patients with gastric cancer and peritoneal metastasis.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy with low-dose cisplatin and doxorubicin (PIPAC C/D) for the treatment of advanced gastric cancer.

Methods: A Partitioned Survival Model followed by state transition Markov model was developed to estimate the costs and effectiveness of the use of PIPAC C/D versus palliative chemotherapy in the UK. The intervention was assessed at two different levels of care, including upfront therapy (PIPAC C/D plus Oxaliplatin in combination with Capecitabine (XELOX) chemotherapy versus first-line chemotherapy alone) and second-line therapy (PIPAC C/D alone versus second-line chemotherapy (ramucirumab monotherapy)).

Budget Impact of the Vest™ High Frequency Chest Wall Oscillation System for Managing Airway Clearance in Patients with Complex Neurological Disorders: A US Healthcare Payers' Perspective Analysis.

Objective: As a recognized therapy to improve airway clearance, high-frequency chest wall oscillation (HFCWO) is used to manage reduced vital capacity in patients with complex neuromuscular disorders (cNMD). This study aimed to investigate the budget impact of HFCWO versus chest wall physical therapy (CWPT) from a US-commercial payer perspective.

Methods: In combination with a previously developed cost-effectiveness model, a budget impact model was developed to evaluate the incremental budgetary impact associated with introducing a HFCWO device over a 5-year time horizon.

Economic Analysis of the CADScor System for Ruling Out Coronary Artery Disease in England.

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart and circulatory disease and is the leading cause of death worldwide. The current diagnostic pathway can lead to patient complications and is also extremely costly. A new medical device, the CADScor System (Acarix AB), was developed for the acoustic detection of CAD before patients undergo invasive diagnostic procedures.

Continuous Monitoring of Respiratory Rate with Wearable Sensor in Patients Admitted to Hospital with Pneumonia Compared with Intermittent Nurse-Led Monitoring in the United Kingdom: A Cost-Utility Analysis.

Background: Respiratory rate (RR) is one of the most important physiologic measures for predicting patients' deterioration of clinical condition and final prognosis. In several studies, RR has been the most important predictor of patients' prognoses.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to conduct a cost-utility analysis to estimate the cost and effectiveness of automatic respiratory rate monitoring (ARRM) with a non-invasive sensor (RespiraSense™) plus intermittent nurse-led RR monitoring (ARRM strategy) compared with intermittent nurse-led RR monitoring (IM strategy) in patients admitted to hospital in the UK with pneumonia.

Anti-cancer & anti-metastasis properties of bioorganic-capped silver nanoparticles fabricated from Juniperus chinensis extract against lung cancer cells.

The current study evaluated the anti-cancer properties of bio-functionalized silver nanoparticles fabricated by Juniperus chinensis leaf extracts. The nanoparticles were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, dynamic light scattering, Zeta potential and X-ray spectroscopy. Further, this study elucidated the cellular and molecular mechanisms of nanoparticles for anti-proliferative and apoptotic effects on human lung cancer cells (A549) and compared them with commercial drug cisplatin.

Photodynamic Therapy for Retinal Hemangioblastoma: Treatment Outcomes of 17 Consecutive Patients.

Purpose: To report the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) for management of retinal hemangioblastoma.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Participants: Seventeen patients with retinal hemangioblastoma treated with PDT.

Uveal Melanoma Metastasis to the Contralateral Eye Structures: A Retrospective Comparative Analysis of 13 Consecutive Patients.

Purpose: To report uveal melanoma (UM) metastasis to the contralateral ocular and periocular structures.

Design: Retrospective study.

Participants: Thirteen patients with UM metastasis to the contralateral ocular and periocular structures were included.

Photodynamic Therapy in Ocular Oncology.

Over the past two decades, we have witnessed the increasing use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the field of ocular oncology. Based on a review of the literature and our own experience, we herein review the role of PDT for the management of intraocular tumors. The discussion includes two main topics.

Association between Illness Perception and Emotional Status in Iranian Patients after Heart Transplantation.

Heart transplantation is a major procedure which imposes high emotional stress on patients. Illness perception (IP) is a psychological issue which affects psychological adjustment after transplantation. This study aimed to investigate the association between IP and emotional status in Iranian post-heart transplantation patients.

Cost-utility analysis of normothermic liver perfusion with the OrganOx compared to static cold storage in the United Kingdom.

Background: Rising numbers of patients on the liver transplant waiting list has led to the utilization of organs from higher-risk donors that are more likely to be discarded and are prone to post-transplant complications. Storage and transportation of these livers at low temperatures can cause damage. OrganOx is a portable device intended to preserve and maintain the donated liver in normothermic conditions for up to 24 h prior to transplantation.

Unique Geospatial Accumulations of Uveal Melanoma.

Purpose: The main purpose of this paper was to describe the unique accumulation of cases of uveal melanoma (UM). All patients were white and did not have known occupational risk factors. From the authors' standpoint, there were no lifestyle factors in common in the reported cases.