Association of non-English as primary language on clinical outcomes for arteriovenous fistula creation within a safety net system.

Approximately 22 ​% of the United States population communicates in a non-English language, potentially impacting healthcare communication and outcomes. Few studies have examined the association between non-English primary language (NEPL) and surgical outcomes and none to our knowledge in patients undergoing arteriovenous fistula creation within a safety net system. In this study, we conducted a retrospective analysis on adults who underwent AVF creation for hemodialysis access between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2019.

Juan Miguel Acosta: His Revolutionary Contribution to Our Understanding of the Pathophysiology of Gallstone Pancreatitis.

It is not every day that true scientific pioneers come along. Fortunately, the early 20 century gifted us with immensely talented professionals like Dr Eugene Opie, who set the groundwork for Dr Juan Acosta and his associates to make revolutionary advancements on the pathophysiologic origin and proper management of acute biliary pancreatitis. Amidst a modest hospital in the city of Rosario, Argentina, Dr Acosta pioneered numerous studies to validate his hypothesis that transient gallstone obstruction of the lumen was the true source of acute biliary pancreatitis.

Correlation Between Medical School Performance and Receiving Awards in General Surgery Residency.

Importance: It is uncertain whether current measures of achievement during medical school predict exceptional performance during surgical residency. One surrogate of excellence during residency may be awards, especially those given for teaching and annual overall accomplishment.

Objective: Determine whether markers of superior performance during medical school documented in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) application and student record correlated with receiving awards during residency.

Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections: A Review.

Importance: Necrotizing soft tissue infections (NSTIs) are severe life- and limb-threatening infections with high rates of morbidity and mortality. Unfortunately, there has been minimal improvement in outcomes over time.

Observations: NSTIs are characterized by their heterogeneity in microbiology, risk factors, and anatomical involvement.

Mentorship of Junior Surgical Faculty Across Academic Programs in Surgery.

Importance: Because mentorship is critical for professional development and career advancement, it is essential to examine the status of mentorship and identify challenges that junior surgical faculty (assistant and associate professors) face obtaining effective mentorship.

Objective: To evaluate the mentorship experience for junior surgical faculty and highlight areas for improvement.

Design, Setting, And Participants: This qualitative study was an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study including an anonymous survey on mentorship followed by semistructured interviews to expand on survey findings.

Spermidine is essential for fasting-mediated autophagy and longevity.

Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting prolong the lifespan and healthspan of model organisms and improve human health. The natural polyamine spermidine has been similarly linked to autophagy enhancement, geroprotection and reduced incidence of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases across species borders. Here, we asked whether the cellular and physiological consequences of caloric restriction and fasting depend on polyamine metabolism.

National analysis of outcomes in timing of cholecystectomy for acute cholangitis.

Background: The present study aimed to compare outcomes between cholecystectomy on index versus delayed admission for acute cholangitis.

Methods: The 2011-2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database was used to identify adult patients admitted for acute cholangitis who underwent cholecystectomy. Study cohorts were defined based on timing of surgery.

Comparison of ovarian mRNA expression levels in wild and hatchery-produced greater amberjack Seriola dumerili.

The greater amberjack Seriola dumerili is a promising candidate for aquaculture production. This study compares the ovary transcriptome of greater amberjack sampled in the wild (WILD) with hatchery-produced breeders reared in aquaculture sea cages in the Mediterranean Sea. Among the seven sampled cultured fish, three were classified as reproductively dysfunctional (DysF group), while four showed no signs of reproductive alteration (NormalF group).

Hospital-level variation in costs of elective nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Background: With the aging population in the United States, the incidence of abdominal aortic aneurysms is shifting to older ages. Given changing demographic characteristics and increasing health care expenditures, the present study evaluated the degree of center-level variation in the cost of elective abdominal aortic aneurysm repair.

Methods: We identified all adult (≥18 years) hospitalizations for elective repair of nonruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms in the 2017 to 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database.

Management of Gallstone Pancreatitis: A Review.

Importance: Gallstone pancreatitis (GSP) is the leading cause of acute pancreatitis, accounting for approximately 50% of cases. Without appropriate and timely treatment, patients are at increased risk of disease progression and recurrence. While there is increasing consensus among guidelines for the management of mild GSP, adherence to these guidelines remains poor.

Effect of a 12-Week Walking Program Monitored by Global Physical Capacity Score (GPCS) on Circulating Cell-Free mtDNA and DNase Activity in Patients with Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) involves low-grade mucosal inflammation. Among the various approaches capable of managing the symptoms, physical activity is still under investigation. Despite its benefits, it promotes oxidative stress and inflammation.

Immediate Operative Trauma Assessment Score: A Simple and Reliable Predictor of Mortality in Trauma Patients Undergoing Urgent/Emergent Surgery.

Many current trauma mortality prediction tools are either too intricate or rely on data not readily available during a trauma patient's initial evaluation. Moreover, none are tailored to those necessitating urgent or emergent surgery. Our objective was to design a practical, user-friendly scoring tool using immediately available variables, and then compare its efficacy to the widely-known Revised Trauma Score (RTS).

The Relationship Between the COVID-19 Pandemic and Pediatric Trauma.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic created difficulties in access to care. There was also increased penetrating trauma in adults, which has been attributed to factors including increased firearm sales and social isolation. However, less is known about the relationship between the pandemic and pediatric trauma patients (PTPs).

Association of rurality with short-term outcomes of peripheral vascular trauma.

Background: Peripheral vascular trauma is a major contributing factor to long-term disability and mortality among patients with traumatic injuries. However, an analysis focusing on individuals at a high risk of experiencing limb loss due to rural and urban peripheral vascular trauma is lacking.

Method: This was a retrospective analysis of the 2016 to 2020 Nationwide Readmissions Database.

Proxies introduce bias in decoding TORC1 activity.

The eukaryotic TORC1 kinase integrates and links nutritional, energy, and hormonal signals to cell growth and homeostasis, and its deregulation is associated with human diseases including neurodegeneration, cancer, and metabolic syndrome. Quantification of TORC1 activities in various genetic settings and defined physiological conditions generally relies on the assessment of the phosphorylation level of residues in TORC1 targets. Here we show that two commonly used TORC1 effectors in yeast, namely Sch9 and Rps6, exhibit distinct phosphorylation patterns in response to rapamycin treatment or changes in nitrogen availability, indicating that the choice of TORC1 proxies introduces a bias in decoding TORC1 activity.

Association of anesthetic modality and other variables on 1-year functional patency of cephalic-based arteriovenous fistulae.

Objective: Some studies suggest that regional anesthesia provides better patency for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) for hemodialysis access as compared to local and general anesthesia. This study evaluates the impact of anesthetic modality on long term fistula function at 12 months.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing cephalic vein-based hemodialysis access in consecutive cases between 2014 and 2019 was conducted from five safety net hospitals.

Association of race and ethnicity with initial surgical hemodialysis access type in a safety net system.

Objectives: Prior studies have found lower arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation rates in Black and Hispanic patients. Whether this is due to health care disparities or other differences is unclear. Our objective was to evaluate the racial/ethnic differences in initial surgical access type within a high-volume, safety net system with predominantly Black and Hispanic populations.

Changes in surgical mortality during COVID-19 pandemic by patients' race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status among US older adults: a quasi-experimental event study model.

Objectives: To examine changes in the 30-day surgical mortality rate after common surgical procedures during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigate whether its impact varies by urgency of surgery or patient race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

Design: We used a quasi-experimental event study design to examine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical mortality rate, using patients who received the same procedure in the prepandemic years (2016-2019) as the control, adjusting for patient characteristics and hospital fixed effects (effectively comparing patients treated at the same hospital). We conducted stratified analyses by procedure urgency, patient race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status (dual-Medicaid status and median household income).