A Phase 1 Study of the DNA-PK Inhibitor Peposertib in Combination With Radiation Therapy With or Without Cisplatin in Patients With Advanced Head and Neck Tumors.

Purpose: DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays a key role in the repair of DNA double strand breaks via nonhomologous end joining. Inhibition of DNA-PK can enhance the effect of DNA double strand break inducing anticancer therapies. Peposertib (formerly "M3814") is an orally administered, potent, and selective small molecule DNA-PK inhibitor that has demonstrated radiosensitizing and antitumor activity in xenograft models and was well-tolerated in monotherapy.

Remote Activity Monitoring and Electronic Patient-Reported Outcomes Collection During Radiotherapy for Head and Neck Cancer: A Pilot Study.

Purpose: Modern wearable devices provide objective and continuous activity data that could be leveraged to enhance cancer care. We prospectively studied the feasibility of monitoring physical activity using a commercial wearable device and collecting electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) during radiotherapy (RT) for head and neck cancer (HNC).

Methods: Patients planned for a course of external beam RT with curative intent for HNC were instructed to use a commercial fitness tracker throughout the RT course.

Variance in 3D anatomic localization of surgical margins based on conventional margin labeling in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: In head and neck cancer (HNC), positive margins are strongly predictive of treatment failure. We sought to measure the accuracy of localization of margin sampling sites based on conventional anatomic labels using a digital 3D-model.

Methods: Preoperative CT scans for 9 patients with HNC treated operatively at our institution were imported into a multiplanar radiology software, which was used to render a digital 3D model of each tumor intended to represent the resection specimen.

Does valve size impact hemodynamic, left ventricular mass regression, and prosthetic valve deterioration with a sutureless aortic valve?

Objective: To assess the mid-term clinical outcomes, hemodynamics, left ventricular (LV) mass regression, and structural valve deterioration (SVD) in patients implanted with the Perceval aortic sutureless valve across valve sizes.

Methods: Data were obtained from a multicenter European trial and a US Investigational Device Exemption trial. Echocardiography data were analyzed by an echocardiography core lab.

Novel Automated Suturing Technology for Minimally Invasive Mitral Chord Implantation: A Preclinical Evaluation Study.

Objective: This study evaluated the ergonomics and time requirements of using a novel automated suturing and titanium fastener deployment technology for chordal replacement in human heart specimens in open and minimally invasive cardiac surgery (MICS) simulators.

Methods: Five cardiac surgeons used novel, manually powered expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) suturing devices to automate suture placement between mitral leaflets and papillary muscles in explanted cadaver hearts, along with customized titanium fastener delivery devices to secure suture and trim suture tails. This mitral chordal replacement test was conducted using surgical models simulating open and MICS mitral repair access.

2-month ketogenic diet preferentially alters skeletal muscle and augments cognitive function in middle aged female mice.

The effect of a ketogenic diet (KD) on middle aged female mice is poorly understood as most of this work have been conducted in young female mice or diseased models. We have previously shown that an isocaloric KD started at middle age in male mice results in enhanced mitochondrial mass and function after 2 months on diet and improved cognitive behavior after being on diet for 14 months when compared with their control diet (CD) fed counterparts. Here, we aimed to investigate the effect of an isocaloric 2-month KD or CD on healthy 14-month-old female mice.

Impact of Preoperative Hematocrit, Body Mass Index, and Red Cell Mass on Allogeneic Blood Product Usage in Adult Cardiac Surgical Patients: Report From a Statewide Quality Initiative.

Objective: The study aims were to evaluate current blood transfusion practice in cardiac surgical patients and to explore associations between preoperative anemia, body mass index (BMI), red blood cell (RBC) mass, and allogeneic transfusion.

Design: Multicenter retrospective study.

Setting: Academic and non-academic centers.

Hospital variability in modifiable factors driving coronary artery bypass charges.

Objective: Coronary artery bypass grafting is associated with significant interhospital variability in charges. Drivers of hospital charge variability remain elusive. We identified modifiable factors associated with statewide interhospital variability in hospital charges for coronary artery bypass grafting.

Feasibility of removable balloon implant for simultaneous magnetic nanoparticle heating and HDR brachytherapy of brain tumor resection cavities.

Aim: Hyperthermia (HT) has been shown to improve clinical response to radiation therapy (RT) for cancer. Synergism is dramatically enhanced if HT and RT are combined simultaneously, but appropriate technology to apply treatments together does not exist. This study investigates the feasibility of delivering HT with RT to a 5-10mm annular rim of at-risk tissue around a tumor resection cavity using a temporary thermobrachytherapy (TBT) balloon implant.

Structure of the bacterial ribosome at 2 Å resolution.

Using cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), we determined the structure of the 70S ribosome with a global resolution of 2.0 Å. The maps reveal unambiguous positioning of protein and RNA residues, their detailed chemical interactions, and chemical modifications.

Modeling the Impact of Cardiopulmonary Irradiation on Overall Survival in NRG Oncology Trial RTOG 0617.

Purpose: To quantitatively predict the impact of cardiopulmonary dose on overall survival (OS) after radiotherapy for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.

Experimental Design: We used the NRG Oncology/RTOG 0617 dataset. The model building procedure was preregistered on a public website.

The Surge After the Surge: Cardiac Surgery Post-COVID-19.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has dramatically reduced adult cardiac surgery case volumes as institutions and surgeons curtail nonurgent operations. There will be a progressive increase in deferred cases during the pandemic that will require completion within a limited time frame once restrictions ease. We investigated the impact of various levels of increased postpandemic hospital operating capacity on the time to clear the backlog of deferred cases.

Racial Disparity in Cardiac Surgery Risk and Outcome: Report From a Statewide Quality Initiative.

Background: Racial disparities persist in health care. Our study objective was to evaluate racial disparity in cardiac surgery in Maryland.

Methods: A statewide database was used to identify patients.

Defects in the Assembly of Ribosomes Selected for β-Amino Acid Incorporation.

Ribosome engineering has emerged as a promising field in synthetic biology, particularly concerning the production of new sequence-defined polymers. Mutant ribosomes have been developed that improve the incorporation of several nonstandard monomers including d-amino acids, dipeptides, and β-amino acids into polypeptide chains. However, there remains little mechanistic understanding of how these ribosomes catalyze incorporation of these new substrates.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of del Nido Versus Conventional Cardioplegia in Adult Cardiac Surgery.

Objective: Del Nido cardioplegia (DC) has been used extensively in pediatric cardiac surgery but the efficacy and safety in adults remains uncertain. Our objective was to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis comparing DC and blood cardioplegia (BC) in our primary endpoint of 30-day or in-hospital mortality as well as other efficacy and safety endpoints.

Methods: Both MEDLINE and EMBASE were searched from 1996 to 2017 for studies comparing DC and BC.

Making Decisions with Trees: Examining Marijuana Outcomes among College Students using Recursive Partitioning.

Exploratory analyses were used to identify a unique constellations of variables that are associated with marijuana use outcomes among college students. We used recursive partitioning to examine over 100 putative antecedents of lifetime marijuana user status, past-month marijuana user status, and negative marijuana-related consequences. Participants (=8141) completed measures online across 11 sites in the USA.

Anemia in men and increased Parkinson's disease risk: A population-based large scale cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate the association between anemia and Parkinson's disease risk (PD) in men and women.

Methods: A population-based cohort of 474,129 individuals (aged 40-79 years at date of first Hb test, 47.4% men) with repeated Hb levels was derived from a large Healthcare Maintenance Organization that serves 2 million citizens in Israel (study-period 1.

A nomogram to determine required seed air kerma strength in planar Cesium permanent seed implant brachytherapy.

Purpose: Intraoperatively implanted Cesium-131 (Cs) permanent seed brachytherapy is used to deliver highly localized re-irradiation in recurrent head and neck cancers. A single planar implant of uniform air kerma strength (AKS) seeds and 10 mm seed-to-seed spacing is used to deliver the prescribed dose to a point 5 mm or 10 mm perpendicular to the center of the implant plane. Nomogram tables to quickly determine the required AKS for rectangular and irregularly shaped implants were created and dosimetrically verified.

Cartilage-Targeted IGF-1 Treatment to Promote Longitudinal Bone Growth.

Recombinant human growth hormone (GH) is commonly used to treat short stature in children. However, GH treatment has limited efficacy, particularly in severe, non-GH-deficient conditions such as chondrodysplasias, and potential off-target effects. Because short stature results from decreased growth plate chondrogenesis, we developed a cartilage-targeting single-chain human antibody fragment (CaAb) aiming to deliver therapeutic molecules to the growth plate, thereby increasing treatment efficacy while minimizing adverse effects on other tissues.

Prospective US investigational device exemption trial of a sutureless aortic bioprosthesis: One-year outcomes.

Objectives: We performed a prospective, single-arm clinical trial approved under a Food and Drug Administration Investigational Device Exemption to assess safety and efficacy of Perceval, a sutureless bovine pericardial aortic valve representing the initial US experience.

Methods: From June 2013 to January 2015, 300 patients (mean age 76.7 ± 7.

Higher serum cholesterol and decreased Parkinson's disease risk: A statin-free cohort study.

Background: Higher levels of serum cholesterol are well-established risk factors for coronary artery disease and stroke. The role of serum cholesterol in neurodegeneration is not clear.

Objective: We evaluated the association between serum cholesterol levels over time and the risk of Parkinson's disease (PD) among statin-free individuals.

The Impact of Mitral Disease Etiology on Operative Mortality After Mitral Valve Operations.

Background: The pathoetiology of mitral regurgitation (MR) has been suggested as a mediator of outcomes after mitral valve (MV) operations, particularly in ischemic functional mitral regurgitation (IMR). This study examined the independent association of MV etiology with mortality.

Methods: The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Database was utilized to assess all patients undergoing MV replacement or repair from 2011 to 2014.

Associations Between Surgical Ablation and Operative Mortality After Mitral Valve Procedures.

Background: Surgical ablation (SA) for atrial fibrillation (AF) concomitant to mitral valve repair/replacement (MVRR) improves longitudinal sinus rhythm. However, the risk of adding SA remains a clinical question. This study examined whether the addition of contemporary SA for AF has an impact on operative outcomes.