Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) and Emerging Intralesional Immunotherapies for Metastatic Melanoma: A Review.

Purpose Of Review: As the incidence of cutaneous melanoma continues to rise worldwide, its heterogeneous presentation proves challenging for managing and preventing relapse.

Recent Findings: While surgery remains a mainstay in staging and treatment of locoregional metastatic melanoma, intralesional therapies have emerged as a new tool to treat unresectable in-transit and nodal metastases and reduce the risk of relapse through immunomodulatory mechanisms. In this review, we will provide an overview of intralesional therapies for melanoma with a particular focus on talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) and its future uses.

Sex disparities in outcomes among hospitalizations for heart failure.

This study investigated sex differences in clinical characteristics and in-hospital outcomes of heart failure (HF) hospitalizations using the National Inpatient Sample data, 2016-2019. HF hospitalizations ≥ 41 years of age were included and stratified by sex. Study outcomes were in-hospital mortality, prolonged length of stay, mechanical ventilation, mechanical circulatory support, vasopressor use, and disposition other than home.

Advancing the care of individuals with cancer through innovation & technology: Proceedings from the cardiology oncology innovation summit 2020 and 2021.

As cancer therapies increase in effectiveness and patients' life expectancies improve, balancing oncologic efficacy while reducing acute and long-term cardiovascular toxicities has become of paramount importance. To address this pressing need, the Cardiology Oncology Innovation Network (COIN) was formed to bring together domain experts with the overarching goal of collaboratively investigating, applying, and educating widely on various forms of innovation to improve the quality of life and cardiovascular healthcare of patients undergoing and surviving cancer therapies. The COIN mission pillars of innovation, collaboration, and education have been implemented with cross-collaboration among academic institutions, private and public establishments, and industry and technology companies.

Development of a Cancer Rehabilitation Dashboard to Collect Data on Physical Function in Cancer Patients and Survivors.

Objective: The aim of the study is to describe the development of a cancer rehabilitation dashboard that collects data on physical function for cancer survivors in a cancer institute.

Methods: This project was conducted at the Miami Cancer Institute. The cancer rehabilitation dashboard was developed by a team of physicians, biostatistician, and medical informatics teams to record, report and track the physical function of cancer survivors.

Gender Differences in Hospital Outcomes among COVID-19 Hospitalizations.

Objectives: Many epidemiological studies have shown that coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) disproportionately affects males, compared with females, although other studies show that there were no such differences. The aim of the present study was to assess differences in the prevalence of hospitalizations and in-hospital outcomes between the sexes, using a larger administrative database.

Methods: We used the 2020 California State Inpatient Database for this retrospective analysis.

Racial difference in mortality among COVID-19 hospitalizations in California.

In the US, racial disparities in hospital outcomes are well documented. We explored whether race was associated with all-cause in-hospital mortality and intensive care unit (ICU) admission among COVID-19 patients in California. This was a retrospective analysis of California State Inpatient Database during 2020.

Healthcare expenditure trends among adult stroke patients in the United States, 2011-2020.

Background: In the US, between 2018 and 2019, approximately $57 billion were expended on stroke and related conditions. The aim of this study was to understand trends in direct healthcare expenditures among stroke patients using novel cost estimation methods and a nationally representative database.

Methods: This study was a retrospective analysis of 193,003 adults, ≥18 years of age, using the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey during 2009-2016.

Adverse Outcomes in Hospitalizations for Amyloid-Related Heart Failure.

Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy is being increasingly recognized as an important cause of heart failure (HF). In this study, we looked at adverse outcomes in hospitalizations with amyloid-related HF. This study was a retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample data, collected from 2016 to 2019.

Effect of Frailty on Hospital Outcomes Among Pediatric Cancer Patients in the United States: Results From the National Inpatient Sample.

Background: Studies on frailty among pediatric patients with cancer are scarce. In this study, we sought to understand the effects of frailty on hospital outcomes in pediatric patients with cancer.

Methods: This retrospective study used data collected and stored in the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) between 2005 and 2014.

Prevalence and trends of perioperative major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events during cancer surgeries.

Major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality during perioperative period. In this study, we looked for national trends in perioperative MACCE and its components as well as cancer types associated with high rates of perioperative MACCE during major cancer surgeries. This study was a retrospective analysis of the National Inpatient Sample, 2005-2014.

Difference in 30-Day Readmission Rates After Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy Versus Laparoscopic Roux-En-Y Gastric Bypass: a Propensity Score Matched Study Using ACS NSQIP Data (2015-2019).

Purpose: There are very few studies that have compared the short-term outcomes of laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (LRYGB) and laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG). Among short-term outcomes, hospital readmission after these procedures is an area for quality enhancement and cost reduction. In this study, we compared 30-day readmission rates after LSG and LRYGB through analyzing a nationalized dataset.

Association Between Frailty, 30-day Unplanned Readmission and Mortality After Hospitalization for Heart Failure: Results From the Nationwide Readmissions Database.

This study examined how frailty in traditional risk-adjusted models could improve the predictability of unplanned 30-day readmission and mortality among heart failure patients. This study was a retrospective analysis of Nationwide Readmissions Database data collected during the years 2010-2018. All patients ≥65 years who had a principal diagnosis of heart failure were included in the analysis.

Recent Trends in Diabetes-Associated Hospitalizations in the United States.

The purpose of this study was to examine trends in diabetes-related hospitalizations over the period 2010 to 2019 using Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to facilitate informed policies regarding diabetes-related prevention and management. Between 2010 and 2019, there were 304 million hospitalizations above 18 years of age, of which 78 million were diabetes-associated hospitalizations. The overall population-adjusted diabetes hospitalizations significantly increased from 3079.

Impact of COVID-19 on Intracranial Meningioma Resection: Results from California State Inpatient Database.

Purpose: To assess the effects of COVID-19 on hospitalizations for intracranial meningioma resection using a large database.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of the California State Inpatient Database (SID) 2019 and 2020. All adult (18 years or older) hospitalizations were included for the analysis.

Hospital Outcomes among COVID-19 Hospitalizations with Acute Ischemic Stroke: Cross-Sectional Study Results from California State Inpatient Database.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) could be a risk factor for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) due to the altered coagulation process and hyperinflammation. This study examined the risk factors, clinical profile, and hospital outcomes of COVID-19 hospitalizations with AIS. This study was a retrospective analysis of data from California State Inpatient Database (SID) during 2019 and 2020.

Hospital Outcomes Among COVID-19 Hospitalizations With Myocarditis from the California State Inpatient Database.

Many case reports have indicated that myocarditis could be a prognostic factor for predicting morbidity and mortality among patients with COVID-19. In this study, using a large database we examined the association between myocarditis among COVID-19 hospitalizations and in-hospital mortality and other adverse hospital outcomes. The present study was a retrospective analysis of data collected in the California State Inpatient Database during 2020.

Effect of frailty on hospital outcomes among patients with cancer in the United States: Results from the National Inpatient Sample.

Introduction: To understand the effects of frailty on hospital outcomes such as in-hospital mortality, length of stay, and healthcare cost among patients with cancer using a nationally representative database.

Materials And Methods: This study was a retrospective observational analysis of Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) data collected during 2005-2014. Participants included adult patients with cancer ≥45 years identified by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes.

Burden of maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant cancer survivors during delivery hospitalizations in the United States.

Existing studies on pregnancy-related outcomes among cancer survivors are limited by sample size or specificity of the cancer type. This study estimated the burden of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes among pregnant cancer survivors using a national database. This study was a retrospective analysis of National Inpatient Sample collected during 2010-2014.

Obstetric outcomes during delivery hospitalizations among obese pregnant women in the United States.

The rates of both maternal and fetal adverse outcomes increase significantly with higher body mass index. The aim of this study was to calculate national estimates of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes and associated hospitalization cost among obese pregnant women using a national database. This study was a retrospective analysis of data retrieved from Nationwide Inpatient Sample database, collected during 2010-2014.

A Brief Overview of Adaptive Designs for Phase I Cancer Trials.

Phase I studies are used to estimate the dose-toxicity profile of the drugs and to select appropriate doses for successive studies. However, literature on statistical methods used for phase I studies are extensive. The objective of this review is to provide a concise summary of existing and emerging techniques for selecting dosages that are appropriate for phase I cancer trials.

Stroke Genomics: Current Knowledge, Clinical Applications and Future Possibilities.

The pathophysiology of stoke involves many complex pathways and risk factors. Though there are several ongoing studies on stroke, treatment options are limited, and the prevalence of stroke is continuing to increase. Understanding the genomic variants and biological pathways associated with stroke could offer novel therapeutic alternatives in terms of drug targets and receptor modulations for newer treatment methods.

Hospitalization rates from radiotherapy complications in the United States.

Hospitalizations due to radiotherapy (RT) complications result in significant healthcare expenditures and adversely affect the quality of life of cancer patients. Using a nationally representative dataset, the objective of this study is to identify trends in the incidence of these hospitalizations, their causes, and the resulting financial burden. Data from the National Inpatient Sample was retrospectively analyzed from 2005 to 2016.

Trends in quality of primary care in the United States, 2007-2016.

During the past decade, many reforms were proposed and implemented for improving primary care in the US. This study assessed improvements in quality of primary care, using a nationally representative database. We conducted a retrospective trend analysis of National Inpatient Sample data (2007-2016).