Enabling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis through chest X-rays: A multi-site and multi-modality study.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the world. Unfortunately, COPD is often difficult to diagnose early when interventions can alter the disease course, and it is underdiagnosed or only diagnosed too late for effective treatment. Currently, spirometry is the gold standard for diagnosing COPD but it can be challenging to obtain, especially in resource-poor countries.

Influenza vaccination in autoimmune neuromuscular diseases: A survey of current practices and perceptions.

Introduction: Recommendations for receiving the influenza vaccination in patients with autoimmune neuromuscular disorders, such as myasthenia gravis (MG), chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), or Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS), may vary among neurology practitioners. This survey examined the current practices and perceptions of neurologists regarding the influenza vaccination in these patients.

Methods: We performed an Internet-based survey among neurologists across the United States through online forums for neurologists.

Differential response to rituximab in anti-AChR and anti-MuSK positive myasthenia gravis patients: a single-center retrospective study.

Background: B-cell targeted therapy with rituximab has shown durable response in treating refractory myasthenia gravis (MG). This study compares the response to rituximab between patients with acetylcholine receptor autoantibody positive (AChR+) and muscle-specific kinase autoantibody positive (MuSK+) MG.

Methods: This retrospective study included 33 patients with either AChR+ or MuSK+ MG who were treated with rituximab from 05/31/2003 to 05/31/2017.

Liver resection and ablation for metastatic melanoma: A single center experience.

Background: The median survival for patients with stage IV metastatic melanoma is usually limited to approximately 1 year. In the case of liver metastasis, resection and ablation can achieve long-term survival. This study aimed to describe the outcomes after liver resection or ablation for metastatic melanoma to the liver and identify preoperative prognostic factors.

Hepatic artery embolization for liver metastasis of gastrointestinal stromal tumor following imatinib and sunitinib therapy.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine the efficacy of hepatic artery embolization (HAE) as a therapy for gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) in patients who are refractory to imatinib and sunitinib.

Methods: After institutional review board approval, a retrospective review revealed 11 patients with GIST metastatic to the liver who underwent 15 HAEs between February 2002 and May 2013. These patients were stratified into two groups according to the previous treatment: (a) those treated with HAE as second-line treatment after failing first-line imatinib (n = 3) and (b) those treated with HAE as third-line therapy after failing first-line imatinib and second-line sunitinib (n = 8).