Janus USPION modular platform (JUMP) for theranostic ultrasound-mediated targeted intratumoral microvascular imaging and DNA/miRNA delivery.

High mortality in pancreatic cancer (PDAC) and triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) highlight the need to capitalize on nanoscale-design advantages for multifunctional diagnostics and therapies. DNA/RNA-therapies can provide potential breakthroughs, however, to date, there is no FDA-approved systemic delivery system to solid tumors. Here, we report a Janus-nanoparticle (jNP)-system with modular targeting, payload-delivery, and targeted-imaging capabilities.

Sex-related differences in D-dimer levels for venous thromboembolism screening.

Background: D-dimer is generally considered positive above 0.5 mg/L irrespective of sex. However, women have been shown to be more likely to have a positive D-dimer after controlling for other factors.

Patient and operational factors that influence the decision to place an inferior vena cava filter in a pulmonary embolism response team.

Objective: The use of inferior vena cava (IVC) filters is controversial. However, the procedure is widely performed for secondary prophylaxis in patients with severe pulmonary embolism (PE), including those treated by a PE response team (PERT). In this study, we analyzed patient factors associated with the clinical decision to place an IVC filter in PERT patients.

Left Ventricular Dysfunction Correlates With Mortality in Pulmonary Embolism.

Background: Risk stratification of patients with pulmonary embolism (PE) is essential to guide advanced interventional management and proper disposition.

Objectives: In this study, we sought to assess individual echocardiographic markers of right ventricular (RV) strain and left ventricular (LV) function in patients with high-risk PE and identify their association with the need for advanced intervention (such as thrombolysis) and 30-day mortality.

Methods: This was a retrospective study of ED patients with PE who were subject to a pulmonary embolism response team activation over a 5-year period.

International, multicenter evaluation of a new D-dimer assay for the exclusion of venous thromboembolism using standard and age-adjusted cut-offs.

Introduction: We sought to determine the test characteristics of an automated INNOVANCE D-dimer assay for the exclusion of pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep venous thrombosis (DVT) in emergency department (ED) patients using standard and age-adjusted cut-offs.

Methods: Cross-sectional, international, multicenter study of consecutive patients with suspected DVT or PE in 24 centers (18 USA, 6 Europe). Evaluated patients had low or intermediate Wells PE or DVT scores.

Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, Stratification, and Natural History of Pulmonary Embolism.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common and potentially fatal form of venous thromboembolism that can be challenging to diagnose and manage. PE occurs when there is obstruction of the pulmonary vasculature and is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. A combination of acquired and inherited factors may contribute to the development of this disease and should be considered, since they have implications for both susceptibility to PE and treatment.

Comparison of Emergency Department Patients to Inpatients Receiving a Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT) Activation.

Objectives: The development of pulmonary embolism response teams (PERTs) has been widely adopted nationally with the goal of providing multidisciplinary care to patients with high-risk PE. Most PERT activations originate from the emergency department (ED), while others are from the intensive care unit (ICU) or inpatient floors. It is unclear if ED PERT activations differ from non-ED PERT activation in terms of presentation, management, and outcome.

Sex-specific genetic determinants for arterial stiffness in Dahl salt-sensitive hypertensive rats.

Background: Arterial stiffness is an independent predictor of cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive patients including myocardial infarction, fatal stroke, cerebral micro-bleeds which predicts cerebral hemorrhage in hypertensive patients, as well as progression to hypertension in non-hypertensive subjects. The association between arterial stiffness and various cardiovascular outcomes (coronary heart disease, stroke) remains after adjusting for age, sex, blood pressure, body mass index and other known predictors of cardiovascular disease, suggesting that arterial stiffness, measured via carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity, has a better predictive value than each of these factors. Recent evidence shows that arterial stiffening precedes the onset of high blood pressure; however their molecular genetic relationship (s) and sex-specific determinants remain uncertain.

Preoperative discrimination of benign from malignant disease in thyroid nodules with indeterminate cytology using elastic light-scattering spectroscopy.

Thyroid nodules are common and often require fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) to determine the presence of malignancy to direct therapy. Unfortunately, approximately 15-30% of thyroid nodules evaluated by FNAB are not clearly benign or malignant by cytology alone. These patients require surgery for the purpose of diagnosis alone; most of these nodules ultimately prove to be benign.