Cancer recurrence and survival among patients who underwent neoadjuvant treatment and surgery for esophageal cancer: A single-institution 10-year experience.

Background: Standard of care for locally advanced esophageal cancer is neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgical resection. The objective of this study is to explore perioperative factors associated with recurrence and survival among patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data on all consecutive minimally invasive Ivor Lewis esophagectomy cases for esophageal cancer performed from September 2013 to September 2023 was performed.

Evaluating Scholastic Achievement in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors Compared With Healthy Controls.

Purpose: Radiation therapy (RT) causes cognitive deficits in pediatric brain tumor survivors (PBTS). Traditionally, this is measured using neuropsychological testing, which lack prediagnosis baseline and do not necessarily trigger action. This pilot project investigated a novel patient-centered outcome of scholastic performance using state-collected educational data.

Major coronary artery calcifications as predictors of postoperative complications in Ivor Lewis esophagectomies: a five-year retrospective analysis.

Background: This study aimed to determine the relationship between preoperative arterial calcifications and postoperative outcomes after Ivor Lewis esophagectomies.

Methods: This was a single-center retrospective review of Ivor Lewis esophagectomies from 2013 to 2018. Preoperative CT imaging was reviewed, and arterial calcifications were graded (absent, minor, or major) in various locations.

Social Determinants Associated with Substance Use and Treatment Seeking in Females of Reproductive Age in the United States.

Females of reproductive age (FoRA; 15-49 years) are the demographic most likely to be diagnosed with a substance use disorder. Preventative treatment prior to or during pregnancy is critical. Stigma and social inequities can delay access to care.

Utility of gastrostomy tube placement at the time of pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the utility of gastrostomy tube (G-tube) placement in reducing delayed gastric emptying (DGE) among patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD).

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed consecutive patients undergoing PD from 2015 to 2020 at our institution. Thirty-day patient outcomes including DGE, length of stay (LOS), reoperation rates, and morbidity were analyzed in patients with or without G-tube placement.

Water-soluble chromenylium dyes for shortwave infrared imaging in mice.

imaging using shortwave infrared light (SWIR, 1000-2000 nm) benefits from deeper penetration and higher resolution compared to using visible and near-infrared wavelengths. However, the development of biocompatible SWIR contrast agents remains challenging. Despite recent advancements, small molecule SWIR fluorophores are often hindered by their significant hydrophobicity.

Pregnancy and infant outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy during delta variant predominance - Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Pregnant People and Infants.

Background: SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes such as preterm birth, stillbirth, and maternal and infant complications. Previous research suggests an increased risk of severe COVID-19 illness and stillbirth in pregnant people during delta variant predominance in 2021; however, those studies did not assess timing of infection during pregnancy, and few of them described COVID-19 vaccination status.

Objective: Using a large population-based cohort, this study compared pregnancy and infant outcomes and described demographic and clinical characteristics of pregnant people with SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to and during the delta variant period.

Does Fixation of the Gastric Conduit Reduce the Incidence of Gastric Volvulus After Esophagectomy?

Background: Acute volvulus of the gastric conduit is a rare complication after esophagectomy that warrants surgical intervention and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study is to evaluate whether fixation of the gastric conduit would reduce the incidence of postoperative volvulus following esophagectomy.

Methods: This single-center retrospective analysis of patients who underwent esophagectomy was conducted to determine the incidence of acute postoperative volvulus following a change in practice.

A point-of-care pilot randomized intervention to connect patients with cancer-induced financial toxicity to telehealth financial counseling.

Purpose: Elevated costs of cancer treatment can result in economic and psychological "financial toxicity" distress. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of a point-of-care intervention to connect adult patients with cancer-induced financial toxicity to telehealth-delivered financial counseling.

Methods: We conducted a three-armed parallel randomized pilot study, allocating newly referred patients with cancer and financial toxicity to individual, group accredited telehealth financial counseling, or usual care with educational material (1:1:1).

Association of Medicaid expansion with 2-year survival and time to treatment initiation in gastrointestinal cancer patients: A National Cancer Database study.

Introduction: We evaluated whether Medicaid expansion (ME) was associated with improved 2-year survival and time to treatment initiation (TTI) among patients with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer.

Methods: GI cancer patients diagnosed 40-64 years were queried from the National Cancer Database. Those diagnosed from 2010 to 2012 were considered pre-expansion; those diagnosed from 2014 to 2016 were considered post-expansion.

A Comparison of Whipple Outcomes Between a Safety-Net Hospital and American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) in African Americans.

Purpose The aim of this study was to compare 30-day adverse events following pancreaticoduodenectomy between our safety-net hospital and the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP) in a matched cohort of Black/African American (AA) patients. Methods We retrospectively reviewed consecutive Black/AA patients undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomies from 2015 to 2020 at our safety-net institution. The corresponding patients from the ACS-NSQIP (2015-2019) were queried.

Disparities in pediatric cancer survivorship care: A systematic review.

Background: Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) experience many long-term health problems that can be mitigated with recommended survivorship care. However, many CCS do not have access to survivorship care nor receive recommended survivorship care. We reviewed the empirical evidence of disparities in survivorship care for CCS.

A Comparison of Clinical and Cost Outcomes After Pancreatectomies at a Safety-net Hospital using a National Registry.

Background: Our institution (UFHJ) meets the criteria of both a large, specialized medical center (LSCMC) and a safety-net hospital (AEH). Our aim is to compare pancreatectomy outcomes at UFHJ against other LSCMCs, AEHs, and against institutions that meet criteria for both LSCMC and AEH. In addition, we sought to evaluate differences between LSCMCs and AEHs.

"I am busy enough…": Navigating challenges experienced by Medicaid providers serving pregnant people living with substance use disorders in Alabama.

Purpose: Perinatal substance use is a clinical and public health concern. The purpose of the study was to understand the perspectives and experiences of perinatal healthcare providers serving pregnant people who receive Medicaid and are living with a substance use disorder.

Design And Methods: We conducted a secondary data analysis of the responses from perinatal healthcare providers who completed a survey to assess the state of Alabama's capability to effectively identify and treat individuals with substance use disorder.

Impact of Medicaid Expansion on Stage at Diagnosis for US Adults with Pancreatic Cancer: a Population-Based Study.

Introduction: We evaluated whether Medicaid expansion is associated with earlier stage at diagnosis for pancreatic cancer taking into account key demographic, clinical, and geographic factors.

Methods: We obtained Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End-Results (SEER-18) data on individuals diagnosed with pancreatic cancer from 2007 to 2016 (< 65 years of age). We defined non-metastatic as either local or regional disease (vs.

Pregnancy and infant outcomes by trimester of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy-SET-NET, 22 jurisdictions, January 25, 2020-December 31, 2020.

Objectives: We describe clinical characteristics, pregnancy, and infant outcomes in pregnant people with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection by trimester of infection.

Study Design: We analyzed data from the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies Network and included people with infection in 2020, with known timing of infection and pregnancy outcome. Outcomes are described by trimester of infection.

Clinical Trial Participation: A Qualitative Study of Adolescents and Younger Adults Recently Diagnosed with Cancer.

Although participation of adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in cancer clinical trials (CCTs, i.e., cancer-directed treatment studies) is low, their decision-making perspectives are not well understood, especially following recent diagnosis.

An Analysis of Factors Related to Care Engagement along the Cancer Survivorship Care Continuum for Cancer Survivors in Florida.

Purpose: This study identifies factors associated with care engagement along the cancer survivorship care continuum for Floridians.

Methods: We identified patients from the OneFlorida Data Trust with a cancer diagnosis at any age and encounters from 2012-2020. Multivariable logistic regression models produced odds ratios (OR) predicting 1) any outpatient non-acute care visit, 2) cancer-related visit with any provider, 3) cancer-related visit with a cancer provider, and 4) survivorship visit with a cancer provider.

Frailty and risk of mortality in older cancer survivors and adults without a cancer history: Evidence from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2014.

Background: Epidemiologic evidence reporting the role of frailty in survival among older adults with a prior cancer diagnosis is limited.

Methods: A total of 2050 older adults (≥60 years old) surviving for at least 1 year after a cancer diagnosis and 9474 older adults without a cancer history from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2014) were included for analysis. The exposure variable, a 45-item frailty index (FI), was categorized on the basis of validated cutoffs (FI ≤ 0.