Recurrence Patterns and Management after Pleurectomy Decortication for Pleural Mesothelioma.

Objective: We hypothesize that recurrence following pleurectomy decortication (PD) is primarily local. We explored factors associated with tumor recurrence patterns, disease-free interval (DFI), and post-recurrence survival (PRS).

Summary Background Data: Tumor recurrence is a major barrier for long-term survival after pleural mesothelioma (PM) surgery.

Outcomes After Duodenoduodenostomy for Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome.

Background: Superior Mesenteric Artery Syndrome (SMAS) is a very rare disease that causes starvation and malnutrition secondary to a mechanical obstruction of the 3 portion of the duodenum between the superior mesenteric artery and aorta. Long-term outcomes following surgery for SMAS by current methods have a high failure rate of 21%-67%. We report the 3-year outcomes of a novel operation for SMAS described as the duodenoduodenostomy (DD).

Characteristics of Long-term Survivors With Malignant Pleural Mesothelioma.

Background: Pleural mesothelioma (PM) is a cancer with a usually dismal prognosis. However, long-term survivors do exist. Herein, we analyzed long-term survivors (>5 years after surgery) from high-volume centers around the world.

Loom: A Modular Open-Source Approach to Rapidly Produce Sensor, Actuator, Datalogger Systems.

In the face of rising population, erratic climate, resource depletion, and increased exposure to natural hazards, environmental monitoring is increasingly important. Satellite data form most of our observations of Earth. On-the-ground observations based on in situ sensor systems are crucial for these remote measurements to be dependable.

Predictive potential of MRI in differentiating the predominant component in biphasic pleural mesothelioma.

Purpose: To assess the potential of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values derived from diffusion weighted (DW) MRI preoperatively to predict the predominant histologic component among biphasic pleural mesothelioma (PM) tumors.

Methods: ADC maps were generated from DW MRI scans. Histology and predominant component of biphasic PM were confirmed following surgical resection.

Circulating SMRP and CA-125 before and after pleurectomy decortication for pleural mesothelioma.

Background: Tumor recurrence remains the main barrier to survival after surgery for pleural mesothelioma (PM). Soluble mesothelin-related protein (SMRP) and cancer antigen 125 (CA-125) are established blood-based biomarkers for monitoring PM. We prospectively studied the utility of these biomarkers after pleurectomy decortication (PD).

Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived planar neural organoids assembled on synthetic hydrogels.

The tailorable properties of synthetic polyethylene glycol (PEG) hydrogels make them an attractive substrate for human organoid assembly. Here, we formed human neural organoids from iPSC-derived progenitor cells in two distinct formats: (i) cells seeded on a Matrigel surface; and (ii) cells seeded on a synthetic PEG hydrogel surface. Tissue assembly on synthetic PEG hydrogels resulted in three dimensional (3D) planar neural organoids with greater neuronal diversity, greater expression of neurovascular and neuroinflammatory genes, and reduced variability when compared with tissues assembled upon Matrigel.

Psilocybin-assisted group therapy in patients with cancer diagnosed with a major depressive disorder.

Background: Depression is common in patients with cancer and is associated with lower treatment adherence and reduced quality of life. Antidepressants and psychotherapy have limited success in improving depression among patients with cancer. This study explored the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of psilocybin-assisted therapy in patients with cancer and major depressive disorder.

Effect of Bariatric Surgery on Plasma Cell-Free Mitochondrial DNA, Insulin Sensitivity and Metabolic Changes in Obese Patients.

While improvement of mitochondrial function after bariatric surgery has been demonstrated, there is limited evidence about the effects of bariatric surgery on circulatory cell-free (cf) mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and intracellular mtDNA abundance. Plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear (PBM) cells were isolated from healthy controls (HC) and bariatric surgery patients before surgery and 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery. At baseline, the plasma level of short cf-mtDNA (, ~100 bp) fragments was significantly higher in obese patients compared to HC.

Generation and Aerobic Oxidation of Azavinyl Captodative Radicals.

We describe a cascade reaction that selectively incorporates oxygen into the carbon-carbon backbone of alkynes using air as the source. The process starts by lithiating readily available, electron-deficient 1,2,3-triazoles, resulting in an amphoteric lithium ketenimine intermediate. This intermediate can react with both electrophiles and nucleophiles.

Developing a Direct Observation Measure of Therapeutic Connection in Psilocybin-Assisted Therapy: A Feasibility Study.

Measuring therapeutic connection during psilocybin-assisted therapy is essential to understand underlying mechanisms, inform training, and guide quality improvement. To evaluate the feasibility of directly observing indicators of therapeutic connection during psilocybin administration encounters. We evaluated audio and video data from a recent clinical trial for observable expressions of therapeutic connection as defined in proposed best-practice competencies (i.

WeatherChimes: An Open IoT Weather Station and Data Sonification System.

Many people in the United States are disconnected from their environment: urban residents spend 90% of their time indoors inside confined climate-controlled spaces. In addition to being physically separated from the natural environment, much of human understanding of the world's environment is inferred from data collected by satellites orbiting 22,000 miles away. In contrast, in-situ environmental sensor systems are physically accessible, location specific, and essential for correcting and validating weather measurements.

Evaluation of High-Interval Education to Improve Outcomes for Bariatric Patients With Health Disparities.

A correlation of health disparities, socioeconomic barriers, and health literacy were hypothesized as causative factors of poor weight loss, weight regain, and loss to clinical follow-up in postbariatric patients. This study explored nurse practitioner-led interventions to address health disparities and improve outcomes. This pilot project evaluated 3-month weights of an intervention cohort as compared with a retrospective cohort.

The direct effect of fibroblast growth factor 23 on vascular smooth muscle cell phenotype and function.

Background: In chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, increased levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) are associated with cardiovascular mortality. The relationship between FGF23 and heart hypertrophy has been documented, however, it is not known whether FGF23 has an effect on vasculature. Vascular smooth muscle cells VSMCs may exhibit different phenotypes; our hypothesis is that FGF23 favours a switch from a contractile to synthetic phenotype that may cause vascular dysfunction.

Undertriage of Geriatric Trauma Patients in Florida.

Introduction: Elderly undertriage rates are estimated up to 55% in the United States. This study examined risk factors for undertriage among hospitalized trauma patients in a state with high volumes of geriatric trauma patients.

Materials And Methods: This is a population-based retrospective cohort study of 62,557 patients admitted to Florida hospitals between 2016 and 2018 from the Agency for Healthcare Administration database.

Activation of Tumor-Cell STING Primes NK-Cell Therapy.

Activation of the stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway promotes antitumor immunity but STING agonists have yet to achieve clinical success. Increased understanding of the mechanism of action of STING agonists in human tumors is key to developing therapeutic combinations that activate effective innate antitumor immunity. Here, we report that malignant pleural mesothelioma cells robustly express STING and are responsive to STING agonist treatment ex vivo.

Top Ten Tips Palliative Care Clinicians Should Know About Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy in the Context of Serious Illness.

Psychedelic-assisted therapy (PAT) is a burgeoning treatment with growing interest across a variety of settings and disciplines. Empirical evidence supports PAT as a novel therapeutic approach that provides safe and effective treatment for people suffering from a variety of diagnoses, including treatment-resistant depression, substance use disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Within the palliative care (PC) field, one-time PAT dosing may lead to sustained reductions in anxiety, depression, and demoralization-symptoms that diminish the quality of life in both seriously ill patients and those at end of life.

Frailty Score as a Predictor of Outcomes in Geriatric Patients with Isolated Hip Fractures.

Background: Isolated hip fractures (IHFs) are a cause of morbidity and mortality in the geriatric population aged >65 years. Frailty has been identified as a determinant for patient outcomes in other surgical specialties. The purpose of this study is to determine if frailty severity is a predictor of outcomes in IHF in the geriatric population.

Patient reported outcomes for cisplatin and radiation followed by carboplatin/paclitaxel versus carboplatin/paclitaxel for locally advanced endometrial carcinoma: An NRG oncology study.

Introduction: Chemotherapy plus radiation (Cis-RT + CP) did not demonstrate superiority in prolonging relapse-free survival compared to chemotherapy alone in patients with stage III or IVA endometrial carcinoma. The impact of treatment on quality of life (QOL), neurotoxicity (NTX) and psychometric properties of the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms subscale during treatment and up to 1 year are described herein.

Methods: QOL assessments were scheduled at baseline, 6 weeks (post completion of RT (Cis-RT + CP) or prior to cycle 3 (CP)), then 18 weeks (end of treatment) and 70 weeks (1 year after the end of treatment) after starting treatment.