Non-small cell lung cancer in ever-smokers vs never-smokers.

Background: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprises 85% of cases with rising incidence among never-smokers (NS). This study seeks to compare clinical, imaging, pathology, and outcomes between NS and ever-smokers (S) NSCLC patients to identify significant differences if any.

Prognostic value of coronary artery calcium scoring in patients with non-small cell lung cancer using initial staging computed tomography.

Background: Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprising 85% of cases. Due to the lack of early clinical signs, metastasis often occurs before diagnosis, impacting treatment and prognosis. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common comorbidity in lung cancer patients, with shared risk factors exacerbating outcomes.

Image quality assessment and automation in late gadolinium-enhanced MRI of the left atrium in atrial fibrillation patients.

Background: Late gadolinium-enhanced (LGE) MRI has become a widely used technique to non-invasively image the left atrium prior to catheter ablation. However, LGE-MRI images are prone to variable image quality, with quality metrics that do not necessarily correlate to the image's diagnostic quality. In this study, we aimed to define consistent clinically relevant metrics for image and diagnostic quality in 3D LGE-MRI images of the left atrium, have multiple observers assess LGE-MRI image quality to identify key features that measure quality and intra/inter-observer variabilities, and train and test a CNN to assess image quality automatically.

Five Criteria Predict Induction and Ablation of Supraventricular Tachycardia.

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend electrophysiological study (EPS) and ablation for primary treatment of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), but there is little information to guide patient selection for the procedure. The purpose of this study was to identify preoperative features that would predict whether patients with signs or symptoms of tachycardia were likely to have SVT induced and ablated at EPS.

Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 1089 patients referred for EPS and ablation of SVT at 2 high volume centers.

Left atrial functional changes associated with repeated catheter ablations for atrial fibrillation.

Introduction: The impact of repeated atrial fibrillation (AF) ablations on left atrial (LA) mechanical function remains uncertain, with limited long-term follow-up data.

Methods: This retrospective study involved 108 AF patients who underwent two catheter ablations with cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) done before and 3 months after each of the ablations from 2010 to 2021. The rate of change in peak longitudinal atrial strain (PLAS) assessed LA function.

Declining invasive and rising in situ melanoma incidence trends in Iceland: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: Melanoma is increasing worldwide, with incidence rates of invasive melanoma and melanoma in situ (MIS) varying by country.

Objective: To provide updated invasive melanoma and MIS incidence and mortality trends in Iceland and explore differences among sex and rurality.

Methods: In this whole-population study using the Icelandic Cancer Registry, patients diagnosed with invasive melanoma or MIS between 1957 and 2021 were included.

Patient and Provider Characteristics Associated with Receipt of Image-guided Interventions for Low Back Pain.

Background And Purpose: Low back pain commonly causes disability, often managed with conservative image-guided interventions before surgery. Research has documented racial disparities with these and other non-pharmacologic treatments. We posited that individual chart reviews may provide insight into the disparity of care types through documented patient/provider discussions and their effect on treatment plans.

Observational study evaluating the association of hoof trimming with dairy cattle behavior and milk yield in Canada and the United Kingdom.

The objective of this observational study was to describe the associations between preventive hoof trimming (HT) of cows with no lesions and several behavior- and productivity-outcome measures including activity, lying behavior, and milk yield. A convenience sample of 4 freestall farms in the United Kingdom (n = 2) and Canada (n = 2) were recruited for the study. Inclusion criteria for herds included having a regular trim schedule and use of a specific pedometer system.

Randomized double-blind placebo-controlled study to evaluate the effect of long-acting mesalamine on postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome with diarrhea.

Background: A subset of patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) develop their symptoms after gastroenteritis, referred to as postinfectious IBS (PI-IBS). PI-IBS is associated with low-grade intestinal inflammation. Previous studies have evaluated mesalamine, an anti-inflammatory drug, in patients with IBS.

Associations of Cognitively Active Versus Passive Sedentary Behaviors and Cognition in Older Adults.

Background: Cognitively stimulating sedentary behavior (SB) may positively impact cognition. This study aimed to (1) describe participation across types of SB among older adults with and without cognitive impairment and (2) examine how baseline SB participation impacts cognition, longitudinally.

Methods: We used National Health and Aging Trends Study data from rounds 6 to 11 for cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses.

Dental implant failures in Utah and US veteran cohorts.

Introduction: Approximately, 5.5 million dental implants are estimated to be surgically placed in the United States yearly, with an anticipated long-term failure rate ranging from 3% to 10%. At the Salt Lake City Dental Clinic within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VHA), specific protocols have been established to mandate that clinicians present every dental implant case for review by a committee.

Perspectives From the RadDiscord Annual Survey: Overview of the Top Study Tools and Evaluation of Study Time and Various Resources.

Rationale And Objectives: Each year, senior radiology residents take the American Board of Radiology Qualifying (Core) exam to evaluate competency. Approximately 10% of first-time examinees will fail this exam (1). Understanding factors that contribute to success will help residency program directors and trainees prepare for future exams.

Near-infrared spectroscopy for kidney oxygen monitoring in a porcine model of hemorrhagic shock, hemodilution, and REBOA.

Acute kidney injury is a common complication of trauma and hemorrhagic shock. In a porcine model of hemorrhagic shock, resuscitative endovascular balloon aortic occlusion (REBOA) and hemodilution, we hypothesized that invasive kidney oxygen concentration measurements would correlate more strongly with noninvasive near infra-red spectroscopy (NIRS) oxygen saturation measurements when cutaneous sensors were placed over the kidney under ultrasound guidance compared to placement over the thigh muscle and subcutaneous tissue. Eight anesthetized swine underwent hemorrhagic shock 4 of which were resuscitated with intravenous fluids prior to the return of shed blood (Hemodilution protocol) and 4 of which underwent REBOA prior to resuscitation and return of shed blood (REBOA protocol).

Developing 60-Day Readmission Risk Score among Home Healthcare Patients with Heart Failure.

Heart failure (HF) readmissions are common, costly, and often preventable. Despite the implementation of HF programs across clinical settings, rehospitalization is still common. Efforts to identify risk factors for 60-day rehospitalization among HF patients exist, but risk scoring has not been utilized in home healthcare.

Longitudinal analysis of cigar use patterns among US youth and adults, 2013-2019.

Background: Cigars are available in a range of pack quantities, which contrasts regulations requiring cigarettes to be sold in packs of 20 or greater. Smaller packages may be associated with increases in initiation while larger packs may lead consumers to smoke more. The purpose of this study was to inform pack quantity regulations by examining whether usual cigar pack quantity purchased was associated with use, initiation, and discontinuation among youth and adults for four cigar types: premium cigars, large cigars, cigarillos, and filtered cigars.

Cognitive impairment in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 and short duration myalgic encephalomyelitis patients is mediated by orthostatic hemodynamic changes.

Introduction: Cognitive impairment is experienced by people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) and post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC). Patients report difficulty remembering, concentrating, and making decisions. Our objective was to determine whether orthostatic hemodynamic changes were causally linked to cognitive impairment in these diseases.

7-Ketocholesterol Promotes Retinal Pigment Epithelium Senescence and Fibrosis of Choroidal Neovascularization via IQGAP1 Phosphorylation-Dependent Signaling.

Accumulation of 7-ketocholesterol (7KC) occurs in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and was found previously to promote fibrosis, an untreatable cause of vision loss, partly through induction of endothelial-mesenchymal transition. To address the hypothesis that 7KC causes mesenchymal transition of retinal pigment epithelial cells (RPE), we exposed human primary RPE (hRPE) to 7KC or a control. 7KC-treated hRPE did not manifest increased mesenchymal markers, but instead maintained RPE-specific proteins and exhibited signs of senescence with increased serine phosphorylation of histone H3, serine/threonine phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), p16 and p21, β-galactosidase labeling, and reduced LaminB1, suggesting senescence.

Improving pain management and safe opioid use after surgery: A DMAIC-based quality intervention.

Background: Multimodal perioperative patient education and expectation-setting can reduce post-operative opioid use while maintaining pain control and satisfaction. As part of a quality-improvement project, we developed a standardized model for perioperative education built upon the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Safe and Effective Pain Control After Surgery (SEPCAS) brochure to improve perioperative education regarding opioid use and pain control.

Material And Methods: Our study was designed within the Define, Measure, Analyze, Improve, Control (DMAIC) quality-improvement framework.

Micellar Encapsulation of Propofol Reduces its Adsorption on Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator (ECMO) Circuit.

Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is a life-saving cardiopulmonary bypass device used on critically ill patients with refractory heart and lung failure. Patients supported with ECMO receive numerous drugs to treat critical illnesses and the underlying diseases. Unfortunately, most drugs prescribed to patients on ECMO lack accurate dosing information.

Dynamic Biophysical Cues Near the Tip Cell Microenvironment Provide Distinct Guidance Signals to Angiogenic Neovessels.

The formation of new vascular networks via angiogenesis is a crucial biological mechanism to balance tissue metabolic needs, yet the coordination of factors that influence the guidance of growing neovessels remain unclear. This study investigated the influence of extracellular cues within the immediate environment of sprouting tips over multiple hours and obtained quantitative relationships describing their effects on the growth trajectories of angiogenic neovessels. Three distinct microenvironmental cues-fibril tracks, ECM density, and the presence of nearby cell bodies-were extracted from 3D time series image data.

Antitachycardia pacing at the His bundle is safer than conventional right ventricular antitachycardia pacing in a canine myocardial ischemic injury model.

Introduction: Antitachycardia pacing (ATP) is used to terminate ventricular tachycardia (VT) by delivering rapid, low energy pacing to the right ventricle (RV). Unfortunately, ATP is not effective against all VT episodes and can result in adverse outcomes, such as VT acceleration and degeneration into ventricular fibrillation (VF). Improving ATP is therefore desirable.

Serum procalcitonin level is independently associated with mechanical ventilation and case-fatality in hospitalized COVID-19-positive US veterans-A potential marker for disease severity.

The Coronavirus-19 disease (COVID-19) has claimed over 6.8 million lives since first being reported in late 2019. The virus that causes COVID-19 disease is highly contagious and spreads rapidly.