Operative Management of Acute Appendicitis Was Safe During the COVID-19 Pandemic Shutdown.

Introduction: In the spring of 2020, New York City was one of the first epicenters of the COVID outbreak. In this study, we evaluate the incidence and treatment of appendicitis in two New York City community hospitals during the COVID pandemic.

Methods: This retrospective study focused on the incidence and outcome of acute appendicitis in the adult population (>18 y old) during peak-COVID periods (March 16, 2020,-June 15, 2020) compared to pre-COVID and post-COVID periods.

Operative Shutdown and Recovery: Restructuring Surgical Operations During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic.

Background: During the 2020 SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in New York City, hospitals canceled elective surgeries to increase capacity for critically ill patients. We present case volume data from our community hospital to demonstrate how this shutdown affected surgical care.

Methods: Between March 16 and June 14, 2020, all elective surgeries were canceled at our institution.

Single-Site Robotic Cholecystectomy at an Inner-City Academic Center.

Introduction: We investigate the safety and efficacy of single-site robotic cholecystectomy compared to laparoscopic cholecystectomy at an inner-city academic medical center.

Materials And Methods: Retrospective analysis comparing single-site robotic to laparoscopic cholecystectomies from August 1, 2013, to January 31, 2015, was conducted. Age, gender, race, body mass index (BMI), total operative time (docking and console time for robotic cases), length of stay, comorbidities, and conversion to open procedures were examined.

End-stage renal disease increases the risk of mortality after appendectomy.

Introduction: With each passing year, the number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing steadily, but there are limited data on the postoperative outcomes of these patients after appendectomy.

Methods: Using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we identified all patients who underwent appendectomy in the United States between 1998 and 2010. We used International Classification of Diseases, 9th Revision, Clinical Modification codes to identify patients with ESRD and to track postoperative complications during hospital admission.

The Bik BH3-only protein is induced in estrogen-starved and antiestrogen-exposed breast cancer cells and provokes apoptosis.

Evidence has been accumulating that some estrogen-dependent human breast cancers require estrogen for not only proliferation but also survival. To obtain insights into the molecular mechanisms of apoptosis of breast cancer cells subjected to estrogen starvation or exposed to antiestrogens, we characterized changes in the gene expression profile of MCF-7/BUS human breast cancer cells and revealed a strong induction of Bik, a member of the BH3-only proapoptotic proteins. The Bik mRNA transcript and protein were strongly induced by estrogen starvation or exposure to fulvestrant, a pure antiestrogen that competes with the natural estrogens for binding to the estrogen receptors.