Is Weight Loss the Main Driver for A1C Improvement by Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 (GLP-1) Receptor Agonists? A 2.5-Year Analysis in Real-World Clinical Practice.

Background: Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) are established treatment options for type 2 diabetes (T2D). In addition to their glycemic benefit, GLP-1 RAs also induce weight loss by suppressing appetite via hypothalamic pathways. However, it remains unclear whether weight reduction is the primary driver of glycemic improvement.

In-person and virtual multidisciplinary intensive lifestyle interventions are equally effective in patients with type 2 diabetes and obesity.

Background: Intensive lifestyle intervention (ILI) is essential for diabetes management. The Weight Achievement and Intensive Treatment (Why WAIT) program is a 12-week multidisciplinary weight management program that has been implemented in real-world clinical practice since 2005 and has shown long-term maintenance of weight reduction for 5 and 10 years. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the program went virtual using telemedicine and mobile health applications.

The Paradox of Prosthetic Joint Infection and the Microbiome: Are Some Bacteria Actually Helpful?

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a potentially catastrophic complication of total joint arthroplasty of the lower extremity. PJI is associated with significant burden of illness and economic cost. There are a number of well-established modifiable risk factors for PJI.

Exposure to Environmental Toxins and Autoimmune Conditions.

The incidence of autoimmunity is growing rapidly worldwide. Many epidemiological studies have found environmental factors, such as toxic chemicals (persistent organic pollutants, toxic metals, solvents, endocrine disruptors), to be a key factor in this rapid progression. Numerous mechanisms have been identified that can cause immune dysregulation and autoimmune reactivity from toxic chemical exposure to subsets of individuals who have genetic susceptibility in immune regulatory genes.

Diabetes clinic reinvented: will technology change the future of diabetes care?

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects nearly 463 million people globally and involves multiple co-morbid conditions that require effective treatment and continuous management. These include lifestyle and behavioral modifications, compliance to diabetes medications and close patient monitoring, all of which can be efficiently conducted telehealth. Integrating digital technology of telehealth and mobile health into diabetes care may improve diabetes management and increase its efficiency.

Computer Vision in the Operating Room: Opportunities and Caveats.

Effectiveness of computer vision techniques has been demonstrated through a number of applications, both within and outside healthcare. The operating room environment specifically is a setting with rich data sources compatible with computational approaches and high potential for direct patient benefit. The aim of this review is to summarize major topics in computer vision for surgical domains.

Personalized application of three different concentrations of iodinated contrast media in coronary computed tomography angiography.

No study has evaluated the impact of different iodinated contrast media on coronary contrast enhancement, using an injection protocol according to body surface area (BSA). Thus, the present study aimed to examine the usefulness and safety of personalized application of different iodine concentrations of contrast media in coronary computed tomographic (CT) angiography with a 2nd dual-source CT scanner in eliminating differences in coronary contrast enhancement based on a BSA-adapted injection protocol of contrast media. A total of 270 enrolled participants were randomly assigned to three groups: ioversol 320, ioversol 350 and iopromide 370 (n = 90 per group).

Food Insecurity and Cardiovascular Health in Pregnant Women: Results From the Food for Families Program, Chelsea, Massachusetts, 2013-2015.

Background: Food insecurity, uncertainty about the ability to acquire adequate food, is associated with cardiometabolic disease in pregnant women. Whether food insecurity interventions improve cardiometabolic health is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of women who visited the obstetrics clinic in a community health center from 2013 through 2015.

Alcohol Policies and Alcoholic Cirrhosis Mortality in the United States.

Introduction: Stronger alcohol policies predict decreased alcohol consumption and binge drinking in the United States. We examined the relationship between the strength of states' alcohol policies and alcoholic cirrhosis mortality rates.

Methods: We used the Alcohol Policy Scale (APS), a validated assessment of policies of the 50 US states and Washington DC, to quantify the efficacy and implementation of 29 policies.

Do patient goals vary with stage of prolapse?

Objectives: To assess the relationship between stage of pelvic organ prolapse and self-expressed patient goals at initial urogynecologic evaluation.

Study Design: From February to December of 2010, women presenting for evaluation of pelvic floor disorders were asked to identify up to 5 goals for treatment. Charts were reviewed for demographics.

Cure of recurrent medulloblastoma: the contribution of surgical resection at relapse.

Background: Recurrent medulloblastoma has long been considered universally fatal. In spite of attempts to improve its treatment, only rarely have long term survivors been documented in the world's medical literature. Although the treatment of primary medulloblastoma is well established and includes surgical excision, postsurgical irradiation, and, more recently, chemotherapy, there is no established treatment for its recurrence.