Augmenting Large Language Models via Vector Embeddings to Improve Domain-specific Responsiveness.

Large language models (LLMs) have emerged as a popular resource for generating information relevant to a user query. Such models are created through a resource-intensive training process utilizing an extensive, static corpus of textual data. This static nature results in limitations for adoption in domains with rapidly changing knowledge, proprietary information, and sensitive data.

Association of Daily Step Count and Postoperative Complication among All of Us Research Participants.

Background: The association between preoperative wearable device step counts and surgical outcomes has not been examined using commercial devices linked to electronic health records (EHR). This study measured the association between daily preoperative step counts and postoperative complications.

Study Design: Data was obtained using the All of Us (AOU) Research program, a nationwide initiative to collect EHR and health-related data from the population.

From Alpha to Omicron and Beyond: Associations Between SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Surgical Outcomes.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly influenced surgical practices, with SARS-CoV-2 variants presenting unique pathologic profiles and potential impacts on perioperative outcomes. This study explores associations between Alpha, Delta, and Omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 and surgical outcomes.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis using the National COVID Cohort Collaborative database, which included patients who underwent selected major inpatient surgeries within eight weeks post-SARS-CoV-2 infection from January 2020 to April 2023.

Risk of Early Postoperative Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Complication in Patients with Preoperative COVID-19 Undergoing Cancer Surgery.

Background: As the COVID-19 pandemic shifts to an endemic phase, an increasing proportion of patients with cancer and a preoperative history of COVID-19 will require surgery. This study aimed to assess the influence of preoperative COVID-19 on postoperative risk for major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACEs) among those undergoing surgical cancer resection. Secondary objectives included determining optimal time-to-surgery guidelines based on COVID-19 severity and discerning the influence of vaccination status on MACE risk.

Severity of Prior Coronavirus Disease 2019 is Associated With Postoperative Outcomes After Major Inpatient Surgery.

Objective: To determine how the severity of prior history (Hx) of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection influences postoperative outcomes after major elective inpatient surgery.

Background: Surgical guidelines instituted early in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic recommended a delay in surgery of up to 8 weeks after an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. This was based on the observation of elevated surgical risk after recovery from COVID-19 early in the pandemic.

Severity of Prior COVID-19 Infection is Associated with Postoperative Outcomes Following Major Inpatient Surgery.

Objective: To determine the association between severity of prior history of SARS-CoV-2 infection and postoperative outcomes following major elective inpatient surgery.

Summary Background Data: Surgical guidelines instituted early in the COVID-19 pandemic recommended delay in surgery up to 8 weeks following an acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. Given that surgical delay can lead to worse medical outcomes, it is unclear if continuation of such stringent policies is necessary and beneficial for all patients, especially those recovering from asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic COVID-19.

Preoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection increases risk of early postoperative cardiovascular complications following noncardiac surgery.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic progresses to an endemic phase, a greater number of patients with a history of COVID-19 will undergo surgery. Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACE) are the primary contributors to postoperative morbidity and mortality; however, studies assessing the relationship between a previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and postoperative MACE outcomes are limited. Here, we analyzed retrospective data from 457,804 patients within the N3C Data Enclave, the largest national, multi-institutional data set on COVID-19 in the United States.