Methods for modeling gestational weight gain: empirical application using electronic health record data from a safety net population.

Background: Understanding the risks and effects of gestational weight gain (GWG) is a prominent area of perinatal research but approaches for quantifying GWG are evolving and remain underdeveloped, especially in clinical settings for underserved demographic subgroups. To fill this gap, we demonstrated and compared six GWG metrics across pre-pregnancy BMI classifications: total GWG, trimester-specific linear rate of GWG, adherence to total and trimester-specific recommendations, area under the curve, and GWG for gestational age z-scores.

Methods: We used clinical data on 44,801 pregnant people from community-based health care organizations with extensive longitudinal measures and substantial representation of understudied subgroups.

Weight and Blood-Based Markers of Cachexia Predict Disability, Hospitalization and Worse Survival in Cancer Immunotherapy Patients.

Background: Cancer-associated cachexia can inhibit immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy efficacy. Cachexia's effect on ICI therapy has not been studied in large cohorts of cancer patients aside from lung cancer. We studied associations between real-world routinely collected clinical cachexia markers and disability-free, hospitalization-free and overall survival of cancer patients.

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) surgery for a deaf patient: Communication strategies.

Purpose: To report a successful method of communication with deaf patients during topical anesthetic refractive surgery.

Observations: Nonverbal ways of communicating with deaf patients during cataract surgery have been reported. Here, we present a report of LASIK surgery for a deaf patient with topical anesthesia using similar communication methods.

The impact of lower thoracic versus upper lumbar upper instrumented vertebra in minimally invasive correction of adult spinal deformity.

Objective: The goal of this study was to compare the impact of using a lower thoracic (LT) versus upper lumbar (UL) level as the upper instrumented vertebra (UIV) on clinical and radiographic outcomes following minimally invasive surgery for adult spinal deformity.

Methods: A multicenter retrospective study design was used. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 years, and one of the following: coronal Cobb angle > 20°, sagittal vertical axis > 50 mm, pelvic tilt > 20°, pelvic incidence-lumbar lordosis mismatch > 10°.

COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Pediatric Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant Patients.

Vaccine hesitancy among immunocompromised patients is complex and not well understood. This study aimed to determine the rate of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pediatric oncology and bone marrow transplant (BMT) patients and to understand associated factors. : Parents of patients (≤18 years) with cancer or post-BMT completed the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines Survey.