The Role of Environmental Exposures on Survival After Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Resection.

Background: Socioeconomic status and pollution exposure have been described as risk factors for poor survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the relationship between these factors is complex and inadequately studied. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between environmental and social factors and their impact on survival after NSCLC resection.

Scaling a Hydraulic Motor for Minimally Invasive Medical Devices.

Aligned with the medical device industry's trend of miniaturization, academic and commercial researchers are constantly attempting to reduce device sizes. Many applications require miniature actuators (2 mm range) to perform mechanical work; however, biocompatible micromotors are not readily available. To that end, a hydraulic motor-driven cutting module that aims to combine cutting and drug delivery is presented.

Impact of Environmental Exposures on Lung Cancer in Patients Who Never Smoked.

Background: Despite the rising incidence of lung cancer in patients who never smoked, environmental risk factors such as ambient air pollution in this group are poorly described. Our objective was to identify the relationship of environmental exposures with lung cancer in patients who never smoked.

Methods: A prospectively collected database was reviewed for all patients with non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) who underwent resection from 2006 to 2021.

Routine chest radiography after thoracostomy tube removal and during postoperative follow-up is not necessary after lung resection.

Objectives: The need for routine chest radiography following chest tube removal after elective pulmonary resection may be unnecessary in most patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the safety of eliminating routine chest radiography in these patients.

Methods: Patients who underwent elective pulmonary resection, excluding pneumonectomy, for benign or malignant indications between 2007 and 2013 were reviewed.

Lung cancer screening utilization rate varies based on patient, provider, and hospital factors.

Objective: Low-dose computed tomography has been proven to reduce mortality, yet utilization remains low. The purpose of this study is to identify factors that impact the utilization of lung cancer screening.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of our institution's primary care network from November 2012 to June 2022 to identify patients who were eligible for lung cancer screening.

A decade of surgical outcomes in a structured lung cancer screening program.

Objective: Lung cancer screening can decrease mortality. The majority of screen-detected cancers are early stage and undergo surgical resection. However, there are little data regarding the outcomes of surgical treatment outside of clinical trials.

Cardiac Surgery Exposure in General Surgery Residency-A Survey of General Surgery Residency Program Directors.

Background: Little is known regarding how much exposure general surgery residents have to cardiac surgery, despite cardiothoracic (CT) surgery being an offered postresidency fellowship and career. Exposure to a subspecialty is important in shaping residents' interests and career decisions.

Methods: A survey was sent to all general surgery program directors via the Association of Program Directors in Surgery examining cardiac surgery exposure during training.

Improving Lung Cancer Diagnosis with CT Radiomics and Serum Histoplasmosis Testing.

Background: Indeterminate pulmonary nodules (IPN) are a diagnostic challenge in regions where pulmonary fungal disease and smoking prevalence are high. We aimed to determine the impact of a combined fungal and imaging biomarker approach compared with a validated prediction model (Mayo) to rule out benign disease and diagnose lung cancer.

Methods: Adults ages 40 to 90 years with 6-30 mm IPNs were included from four sites.

Targeting de novo lipogenesis and the Lands cycle induces ferroptosis in KRAS-mutant lung cancer.

Mutant KRAS (KM), the most common oncogene in lung cancer (LC), regulates fatty acid (FA) metabolism. However, the role of FA in LC tumorigenesis is still not sufficiently characterized. Here, we show that KMLC has a specific lipid profile, with high triacylglycerides and phosphatidylcholines (PC).

Does Molecular Profiling of -Mutant Non-Squamous Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Help in Treatment Strategy Planning?

Background: Several studies suggest that patients with KRAS-mutant NSCLC fail to benefit from standard systemic therapies and do not respond to EGFR inhibitors. Most recently, KRAS 12c data suggest specific treatment for improving ORR and OS. There is a clear need for therapies specifically developed for these patients.

The Impact of Enhanced Recovery After Surgery on Persistent Opioid Use Following Pulmonary Resection.

Background: Enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) has been associated with improved perioperative outcomes after thoracic surgery; however, the impact on long-term opioid use remains unknown. The aim of our study was to evaluate the effects of ERAS on long-term opioid use.

Methods: Patients who underwent pulmonary resection were identified from a prospectively maintained database and linked to the regional prescription drug monitoring program.

Surgical and radiation treatment of a paravertebral malignant solitary fibrous tumor: a case report and literature review.

Malignant solitary fibrous tumors (MSFT) are rare neoplasms, and typically exhibit an aggressive course. While complete surgical resection is the primary treatment modality, the role of adjuvant radiation treatment in larger tumors is not well-established. Despite limited reported cases which demonstrated extended disease-free periods with adjuvant radiation, its utilization is conflictingly both recommended or discouraged across the literature due to the absence of high-quality published data.

Offering lung resection to current smokers: An opportunity for more equitable care.

Objective: Minority patients with lung cancer are less likely to undergo surgical resection and experience worse survival than non-Hispanic White patients. Currently, 40% of thoracic surgeons require smoking cessation before surgery, which may disproportionately affect minority patients. Our objective was to assess the risk of smoking status on postoperative morbidity and mortality among patients with lung cancer.

A Structured Program Maximizes Benefit of Lung Cancer Screening in an Area of Endemic Histoplasmosis.

Background: Lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography has demonstrated at least a 20% decrease in lung cancer-specific mortality, but it has the potential harm of unnecessary invasive procedures performed because of false-positive results. This study reports the outcomes of a structured multidisciplinary lung cancer screening program in an area of endemic histoplasmosis.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing lung cancer screening from December 2012 to March 2019 was conducted.

Impact of Integrated Thoracic Residency on General Surgery Residents' Thoracic Operative Volume.

Background: Integrated thoracic surgery (I-6) programs have become popular over traditional general surgery (GS) pathways since their inception in 2007. However the effect of I-6 programs on GS resident training remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of I-6 programs on the thoracic operative experience of co-located GS residents.

Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Lung Cancer Screening Program and Subsequent Lung Cancer.

Background: Low-dose CT (LDCT) screening reduces lung cancer mortality by at least 20%. The COVID-19 pandemic required an unprecedented shutdown in our institutional LDCT program. The purpose of this study was to examine the impact of COVID-19 on lung cancer screening and subsequent cancer diagnosis.

Opioid Dependence After Lung Cancer Resection: Institutional Analysis of State Prescription Drug Database.

Background: The national opioid epidemic is a public health crisis. Thoracic surgery has also been associated with high incidence of new persistent opioid use. Our purpose was to describe the incidence and predictors of opioid use after lung cancer resection.