Safety of Systemic Medications Among Older Adults With Psoriasis and Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review of Observational Studies.

Background: Psoriasis and atopic dermatitis are common among older adults (≥65 years old), but clinical trials often exclude that population.

Objective: To synthesize evidence from observational studies on the safety of systemic therapies (conventional or biologic) for psoriasis and atopic dermatitis among older adults in a systematic review.

Methods: We searched MEDLINE and EMBASE (inception to October 31, 2019) and included observational studies reporting adverse events among older people treated with systemic therapy for psoriasis or atopic dermatitis.

Inclusion of Older Adults in Randomized Clinical Trials for Systemic Medications for Atopic Dermatitis: A Systematic Review.

Importance: Despite increasing evidence that atopic dermatitis is common in older adults, it is unclear whether the evidence base for treating atopic dermatitis with systemic therapy is generalizable to that population. Older adults are most at risk for adverse events from medications, given age-related alterations in drug metabolism, increased comorbidity, and polypharmacy.

Objective: This systematic review examines the representation of older adults in randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of systemic immunomodulatory treatments for atopic dermatitis and whether safety and efficacy data are reported specifically for older individuals.

Establishment of an erythroid progenitor cell line capable of enucleation achieved with an inducible c-Myc vector.

Background: A robust scalable method for producing enucleated red blood cells (RBCs) is not only a process to produce packed RBC units for transfusion but a potential platform to produce modified RBCs with applications in advanced cellular therapy. Current strategies for producing RBCs have shortcomings in the limited self-renewal capacity of progenitor cells, or difficulties in effectively enucleating erythroid cell lines. We explored a new method to produce RBCs by inducibly expressing c-Myc in primary erythroid progenitor cells and evaluated the proliferative and maturation potential of these modified cells.

Thirty-Day Outcomes Following Surgical Decompression of Thoracic Outlet Syndrome.

Background: Surgical thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS) management involves decompression of the neurovascular structures by releasing the anterior and/or middle scalene muscles, resection of the first and/or cervical ribs, or a combination. Various surgical approaches (transaxillary, supraclavicular, infraclavicular, and transthoracic) have been used with varying rates of complications. The purpose of this study was to evaluate early postoperative outcomes following surgical decompression for TOS.

Risk Factors for Titanium Mesh Implant Exposure Following Cranioplasty.

Purpose: Titanium mesh is used to reconstruct the neurocranium in cranioplasties. Though it is generally well-tolerated, erosion of the overlying soft tissue with exposure of the implant is a complication that adversely affects patient outcomes. The purpose of this study is to investigate potential risk factors for titanium mesh exposure.

Neurofibromatosis Clinic: A Report on Patient Demographics and Evaluation of the Clinic.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common single-gene disorder. A multidisciplinary approach to the management of NF1 patients is necessitated by the heterogeneity of clinical manifestations. Although multidisciplinary paediatric clinics have been well established, there is a dearth of such resources for adults with NF1.

Informational and Supportive Care Needs of Brain Metastases Patients and Caregivers: a Systematic Review.

While brain metastases (BM) are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, the needs of BM patients and their caregivers (CGs) remain largely unknown. The purpose of this systematic review was to summarize (a) the informational needs of BM patients and CGs, (b) their supportive care needs, and (c) studies evaluating existing programs and resources addressing one or more of informational needs. A systematic search was conducted in four databases to identify studies, published from 2000 to April 2015, discussing informational or supportive care needs of BM patients and/or their CGs.

Importance of patient-centred signage and navigation guide in an orthopaedic and plastics clinic.

Gulshan & Nanji Orthopaedic and Plastics Center at the North York General Hospital is the second busiest site after the emergency department serving more than 26,000 patients annually. Increase in patient flow, overworked staff, and recent renovations to the hospital have resulted in patients experiencing long wait times, and thusly patient dissatisfaction and stress. Several factors contribute to patient dissatisfaction and stress: i) poor and unfriendly signage; ii) inconsistent utilization of the numbering system; and iii) difficulty navigating to and from the imaging center.