Endovascular Repair of Primary Aortocaval Fistula at the Caval Confluence in a Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm.

Primary aortocaval fistulas (ACF) are a rare complication of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), for which treatment options encompass both endovascular and open surgical intervention. To report a rare presentation of primary aortocaval fistula. Case Report.

Prophylactic Sartorius Flap Reconstruction Is Associated With Reduced Vascular Graft Infection.

Introduction: Complications in the femoral area following vascular surgery are frequent and linked to considerable morbidity, including the risk of underlying graft infection. Sartorius muscle flaps are an important adjunct for the treatment of wound complications. In this study, we examined our experience with prophylactic sartorius muscle flap coverage and its association with prosthetic vascular graft infection.

Incidence of Compartment Syndrome Following Peri-Pandemic Intervention for Non-traumatic Acute Limb Ischemia.

Objective: During the pandemic, our institution anecdotally observed a significant proportion of acute limb ischemia (ALI) patients developing compartment syndrome (CS) following revascularization compared to pre-pandemic rates. To determine whether this perceived increase was occurring globally, we utilized the TriNetX database to evaluate the incidence of CS secondary to ALI intervention in both the pre-pandemic (2017-2019) and pandemic eras (2020-2022).

Methods: We conducted a multicenter query using the TriNetX global research network for ALI patients receiving treatment.

The missing clinical guidance: a scoping review of care for autistic transgender and gender-diverse people.

Unlabelled: The co-occurrence of autism and gender diversity has been increasingly studied in the past decade. It is estimated that ∼11% of transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) individuals are diagnosed with autism. However, there is insufficient knowledge about appropriate gender-related clinical care for autistic TGD individuals.

Understanding the Scope of Acute Care Vascular Surgery at a Tertiary Academic Medical System.

Background: The restructuring of nonelective general surgery and nationwide implementation of the acute care surgery paradigm has improved patient outcomes and healthcare resource utilization. Although vascular surgery maintains one of the highest acuity rates among surgical specialties, the acute care vascular surgery (ACVS) practice model has not been widely accepted. In the present study, we investigate the scope and burden of ACVS at a tertiary academic medical system.

Postoperative Bleeding Complications are Common among Patients Undergoing Transcarotid Artery Revascularization.

Background: Current practice guidelines recommend dual antiplatelet therapy for at least 30 days postoperatively after transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) to promote stent patency. However, many patients are already taking other antithrombotic medications. The optimal pharmacologic regimen in this patient population remains unclear, especially as it pertains to postoperative bleeding complications.

The effects of age and frailty on the risks of end-stage renal disease, death, and severe infection in older adults with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Frailty, a measure of biological age, might predict poor outcomes in older adults better than chronological age. We aimed to compare the effect of age and frailty on end-stage renal disease, death, and severe infection within 2 years of diagnosis in older adults with incident antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included individuals aged 65 years or older from the Mass General Brigham ANCA-associated vasculitis cohort in the USA who were treated between Jan 1, 2002, and Dec 31, 2019.

Longitudinal Symptom Burden and Pharmacologic Management of Catatonia in Autism with and without Profound Impairment: An Observational Study.

Introduction: Catatonia is a highly morbid psychomotor and affective disorder which can affect autistic individuals with and without profound impairment. Catatonic symptoms are treatable with pharmacotherapy and electroconvulsive therapy, but the longitudinal effectiveness of these treatments has not been described.

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study of patients with autism and co-morbid catatonia who received outpatient care in a specialized outpatient clinic from July 1, 2021 to May 31, 2024.

Defining the Value of Vascular Surgery Service at a Tertiary Academic Medical Center.

Background: Vascular surgeons play a critical role in the functioning of a healthcare system. As a service line, vascular surgery not only performs its own complex operations but also provides support to other surgical specialties by assisting in the management of vascular-related complications. Previous reports have acknowledged the value of consulting vascular surgeons; however, these studies have primarily been limited to single-center series.

Recombinant origin and interspecies transmission of a HERV-K(HML-2)-related primate retrovirus with a novel RNA transport element.

HERV-K(HML-2), the youngest clade of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs), includes many intact or nearly intact proviruses, but no replication competent HML-2 proviruses have been identified in humans. HML-2-related proviruses are present in other primates, including rhesus macaques, but the extent and timing of HML-2 activity in macaques remains unclear. We have identified 145 HML-2-like proviruses in rhesus macaques, including a clade of young, rhesus-specific insertions.

The effect of adding physician recommendation in digitally-enabled outreach for COVID-19 vaccination in socially/economically disadvantaged populations.

Introduction: People from backgrounds that are economically/socially disadvantaged experienced disproportionately high COVID-19 death rates and had lower vaccination rates. Effective outreach strategies for increasing vaccine uptake during the pandemic are not fully known. Among patients receiving care at a Federally Qualified Health Center, we tested whether community engaged digitally-enabled outreach from a trusted clinician messenger increased COVID vaccine uptake.

Development and characterization of the mode-of-action of inhibitory and agonist peptides targeting the voltage-gated sodium channel SCN1B beta-subunit.

Cardiac arrhythmia treatment is a clinical challenge necessitating safer and more effective therapies. Recent studies have highlighted the role of the perinexus, an intercalated disc nanodomain enriched in voltage-gated sodium channels including both Na1.5 and β1 subunits, adjacent to gap junctions.

Diversity of Research Participant Gender, Race, and Ethnicity in Communication Sciences and Disorders: A Systematic Review and Quantitative Synthesis of American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Publications in 2020.

Purpose: One manifestation of systemic inequities in communication sciences and disorders (CSD) is the chronic underreporting and underrepresentation of sex, gender, race, and ethnicity in research. The present study characterized recent demographic reporting practices and representation of participants across CSD research.

Methods: We systematically reviewed and extracted key reporting and participant data from empirical studies conducted in the United States (US) with human participants published in the year 2020 in journals by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA; = 407 articles comprising a total = 80,058 research participants, search completed November 2021).

New focus on cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel β1 and β1B: Novel targets for treating and understanding arrhythmias?

Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are transmembrane protein complexes that are vital to the generation and propagation of action potentials in nerve and muscle fibers. The canonical VGSC is generally conceived as a heterotrimeric complex formed by 2 classes of membrane-spanning subunit: an α-subunit (pore forming) and 2 β-subunits (non-pore forming). Na1.

Endovascular salvage of occluded renal artery after >15 hours of ischemic time.

In severe cases of acute traumatic injury to the kidney, immediate intervention is necessary to avoid irreversible ischemic damage. This case involves a 24-year-old woman who presented with signs of right renal devascularization after a high-speed all-terrain vehicle accident. Due to transport from an outside hospital, there was >15-hour delay before evaluation by vascular surgery.

Attitudes of autistic adults toward genetic testing for autism.

Genetic testing for autism has been a controversial topic within the autistic community. Opinions regarding the benefits, risks, and limitations of genetic testing often differ between autistic people, researchers, and healthcare providers. The present study sought to understand the beliefs, attitudes, and intentions to pursue genetic testing of autistic adults and compare perspectives of autistic people who have had genetic testing with those who have not.

Surgical outcomes of patients with inferior vena cava leiomyosarcoma.

Introduction: Primary vascular leiomyosarcomas are incredibly rare and have a poor prognosis. The purpose of this study was to analyze the surgical outcomes of patients with primary inferior vena cava (IVC) leiomyosarcoma.

Methods: We performed a retrospective review of IVC leiomyosarcoma resections performed at a single tertiary care hospital from 2014 to 2023.

The Social Validity of Behavioral Interventions: Seeking Input from Autistic Adults.

Many in the autistic community have expressed concerns regarding the use of behavioral interventions with autistic children, suggesting that these interventions may not be socially valid. Though behavioral interventions have evolved to be more naturalistic and child-centered, little structured research has been done to explicitly seek autistic perspectives on the acceptability of specific components of behavioral interventions. Autistic adults (N = 235) were recruited online to take the Autism Intervention Attitudes Scale (AIAS), a questionnaire designed to gather feedback on common intervention goals and practices.

Policy and market forces delay real estate price declines on the US coast.

Despite increasing risks from sea-level rise (SLR) and storms, US coastal communities continue to attract relatively high-income residents, and coastal property values continue to rise. To understand this seeming paradox and explore policy responses, we develop the Coastal Home Ownership Model (C-HOM) and analyze the long-term evolution of coastal real estate markets. C-HOM incorporates changing physical attributes of the coast, economic values of these attributes, and dynamic risks associated with storms and flooding.

Endovascular Treatment of a Multi-visceral Aortic Conduit Blowout With Parallel Stent Grafts and Coils.

Multi-visceral transplantation (MVT) is a complex surgical procedure involving the transplantation of multiple abdominal organs as a single unit, typically used as bailout treatment of patients with devastating abdominal pathologies. Due to the complexity of the procedure, major and even life-threatening complications can happen. Vascular complications, including anastomotic breakdowns or pseudoaneurysms due to infections, can be universally lethal.

Measurement matters: A commentary on the state of the science on patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) in autism research.

High quality science relies upon psychometrically valid and reliable measurement, yet very few Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) have been developed or thoroughly validated for use with autistic individuals. The present commentary summarizes the current state of autism PROM science, based on discussion at the Special Interest Group (SIG) at the 2022 International Society for Autism Research (INSAR) Annual Meeting and collective expertise of the authors. First, we identify current issues in autism PROM research including content and construct operationalization, informant-structure, measure accessibility, and measure validation and generalization.

Factors Associated With an Electronic Health Record-Based Definition of Postacute Sequelae of COVID-19 in Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Disease.

Objective: Many individuals with rheumatic disease are at higher risk for severe acute coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to evaluate risk factors for postacute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) using an electronic health record (EHR)-based definition.

Methods: We identified patients with prevalent rheumatic diseases and COVID-19 within the Mass General Brigham healthcare system.

Parent and Provider Differences in Ratings of Mental Health and Neurodevelopmental Concerns in Children with Neurologic Disorders.

Children with neurologic disorders face increased risks for mental health and neurodevelopmental conditions, with information often limited to parent report. To better understand mental health and neurodevelopmental needs in this population, a retrospective chart review of a convenience sample of children with neurologic disorders referred for a neuropsychological evaluation was conducted in the present study to explore interrater agreement between care team members (referring providers, parents, pediatric neuropsychologist). Qualitative and quantitative data were collected from the evaluation reports of 129 youth (9:0-17:11 years old; 51.

Feasibility and Intermediate Results of Transcarotid Revascularization with a Prosthetic Conduit.

Background: Transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) is a hybrid technique with excellent initial outcomes. The technical success and safety of TCAR is heavily dependent on an anatomically suitable common carotid artery (CCA). Many patients do not meet anatomic criteria and therefore are not eligible for this therapy.