Site-selection criteria for the Einstein Telescope.

The Einstein Telescope (ET) is a proposed next-generation, underground gravitational-wave detector to be based in Europe. It will provide about an order of magnitude sensitivity increase with respect to the currently operating detectors and, also extend the observation band targeting frequencies as low as 3 Hz. One of the first decisions that needs to be made is about the future ET site following an in-depth site characterization.

Missed psychosocial risk factors during routine preoperative evaluations are associated with increased complications after elective cancer surgery.

Background: Certain behavioral traits and inadequate social support are known risk factors for complications after cancer surgery. Despite their importance, it is unclear whether conventional patient preoperative evaluation captures them. This study was conducted to assess concordance between documentation and patient survey of selected risk factors and to determine whether failure to document affected postoperative outcomes.

Psychosocial Risks are Independently Associated with Cancer Surgery Outcomes in Medically Comorbid Patients.

Background: The specific effect of psychosocial risk factors on surgical outcomes in cancer patients remains unexplored. The purpose of this prospective observational study was to assess the association of preoperative psychosocial risk factors and 30-day complications following cancer surgery.

Methods: Psychosocial risks among elective gastrointestinal cancer surgery patients were ascertained through structured interviews using well-established screening forms.

Increased Healthcare Utilization for Medical Comorbidities Prior to Surgery Improves Postoperative Outcomes.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of optimization of preoperative comorbidities by nonsurgical clinicians on short-term postoperative outcomes.

Summary Background Data: Preoperative comorbidities can have substantial effects on operative risk and outcomes. The modifiability of these comorbidity-associated surgical risks remains poorly understood.

Comparison of Efficacy and Tolerance of Automatic Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Devices With the Optimum Continuous Positive Airway Pressure.

Patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome were randomly placed on automatic continuous positive airway pressure (ACPAP) for 2 hours followed by manual titration for the rest of the night. One hundred sixty-one patients entered the study, with at least 50 patients titrated with each of 3 ACPAP devices. The optimum continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) was defined as the lowest pressure with an apnea-hypoxia index of ≤5/hr, which ranged from 4 cm to 18 cm.

Efficacy and safety of intrapleural instillation of alteplase in the management of complicated pleural effusion or empyema.

We investigated the efficacy and safety of intrapleural instillation of recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (Alteplase) in 120 patients with complicated pleural effusion (CPE) or empyema. These 120 patients had failed simple chest tube placement and conventional medical treatment. The patients included 52 with empyema, 41 with CPE, 10 with hemothorax, and 17 with complicated malignant pleural effusions.