Advances in Radiation Oncology in Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

Purpose: To review recent advances with radiation therapy (RT) for soft tissue sarcomas (STS).

Recent Findings: Newer data showcases hypofractionated preoperative RT for soft tissue sarcomas treated with surgery to be safe and effective, however, long-term follow up data is pending. Hypofractionated and dose-escalated RT in patients with unresectable STS is also being studied, for which we remain optimistic given advances in RT planning approaches.

Lateral hypothalamic area high-frequency deep brain stimulation rescues memory decline in aged rat: behavioral, molecular, and electrophysiological study.

To examine the effect of DBS of the lateral hypothalamic area (LHA) on age-related memory changes, neuronal firing from CA1, oxidative stress, and the expression of Hsp70, BDNF, and synaptophysin. 72 male rats were randomly allocated into 6 equal groups: a) normal young group (8 W), b) sham young group, c) DBS young group, d) normal old group (24 months), e) sham old group and f) DBS old group. Memory tests (passive avoidance and Y maze), oxidative stress markers (MDA, catalase, and GSH) and expression of Nrf2, HO-1, Hsp70, BDNF, and synaptophysin were measured by the end of the experiment.

The Effectiveness of Pressure Injury Prevention Education for Patient Care Technicians in an Adult Acute Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project.

Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine whether hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs) could be prevented by implementing an educational tool kit for patient care technicians (PCTs).

Participants And Setting: Data were collected from 24 PCTs and 43 patients in a 26-bed inpatient adult acute care unit at an academic medical center in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States.

Approach: Outcome data were collected over an 8-week period from September to November 2021.

Syncope Induced by Dynamic Head and Shoulder Motion in the Setting of Left Subclavian Stenosis.

Introduction: Dynamic vertebral artery insufficiency is a rare vascular phenomenon characterized by insufficient flow of the posterior cerebral circulation induced by dynamic motion of the head. Prior case reports have been limited to vertebral artery occlusion by cervical osteophytes or other structural impingements.

Case Report: In this case report, we discuss the unusual case of a 61-year-old female with a history of vertigo, diplopia, nystagmus, and left subclavian stenosis admitted to the hospital for syncope elicited by a left head turn and left shoulder raise.

Therapeutic effects of platelet-derived extracellular vesicles on viral myocarditis correlate with biomolecular content.

Introduction: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) can potently inhibit inflammation yet there is a lack of understanding about the impact of donor characteristics on the efficacy of EVs. The goal of this study was to determine whether the sex and age of donor platelet-derived EVs (PEV) affected their ability to inhibit viral myocarditis.

Methods: PEV, isolated from men and women of all ages, was compared to PEV obtained from women under 50 years of age, which we termed premenopausal PEV (pmPEV).

Acute Isolated Corpus Callosum Infarction: A Case Report.

The corpus callosum is a large subcortical white matter region in the brain that contains fiber connecting both cerebral hemispheres together; it has a rich blood supply; hence, infarction in this region is rare. There are a few reported cases of corpus callosal infarction, and here we present our patient who had a clinical presentation that was not suggestive of corpus callosal infarction. However, an MRI brain confirmed the location, and the patient was managed following the standard stroke treatment, and vascular risk factors were addressed and managed.

Education Research: Making a Tweetorial Fly: Features of Educational Social Media Posts Associated With High Sharing and Engagement.

Background And Objectives: Social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) are increasingly used in medical education. Characteristics of tweetorials (threaded teaching posts) associated with higher degrees of engagement are unknown. We sought to understand features of neurology-themed tweetorials associated with high sharing and engagement.

Parkin deficiency aggravates inflammation-induced acute lung injury by promoting necroptosis in alveolar type II cells.

Background: Necroptosis is a form of programmed cell death resulting in tissue inflammation due to the release of intracellular contents. Its role and regulatory mechanism in the context of acute lung injury (ALI) are unclear. Parkin (Prkn), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, has recently been implicated in the regulation of necroptosis.

Palovarotene in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: review and perspective.

Introduction: Palovarotene is a retinoic acid receptor gamma agonist that was studied in phase-2 and phase-3 clinical trials for the inhibition of new heterotopic ossification (HO) in fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP). Despite numerous setbacks and regulatory delays, palovarotene is now the first approved FOP treatment in the U.S.

Correlation of King-Devick Test and Helmet Impact Exposures Over a Youth Football Season.

Background: The cumulative effect of repetitive subconcussive head impacts on neurocognitive function during youth contact sports remains largely unknown. There is a paucity of literature evaluating cumulative helmet forces over a season and their correlation with preseason and postseason cognitive performance tasks such as the King-Devick test (KDT).

Hypothesis: Higher helmet forces recorded throughout a 10-week, 10-game youth football season would correlate with slower performance on postseason KDT.

Development and Implementation of Automated Referral Triaging System for Spinal Cord Stimulation Procedure in Pain Medicine.

Effective referral triaging enhances patient service outcomes, experience and access to care especially for specialized procedures. This study presents the development and implementation of an automated triaging system to predict patients who would benefit from Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) procedure for their pain management. The proposed triage system aims to improve the triage process by reducing unnecessary appointments before SCS assessment, ensuring appropriate pain management care.

Comparative analysis of quality of life in solid organ transplant recipients: the influence of skin cancer.

Background: Dermatological health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs), often affected by skin cancer, has been insufficiently explored. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of skin cancer on quality of life (QoL) in SOTRs and to compare HRQoL measures between SOTRs with and without skin cancer.

Methods: This cross-sectional study (June 2023-March 2024) assessed adult SOTRs using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and Skindex-29 questionnaires.

CPT® Codes for MRI Safety - A User's Guide.

The magnetic fields of the MR environment present unique safety challenges. Medical implants and retained foreign bodies can prevent patients from undergoing MR imaging due to interactions between the magnetic fields of the MR environment and the implant or foreign body. These hazards can be addressed through careful MR safety screening and MR examination customization, often allowing these patients with implants to undergo management-altering MR imaging.

Autoimmune encephalitis: recovery, residual symptoms and predictors of long-term sequelae.

Background: Data regarding long-term recovery from autoimmune encephalitis (AE) remain limited.

Methods: This retrospective observational study investigated outcomes in 182 patients who met the 2016 criteria for definite AE. Recovery data were available in 172 patients.

Morphologic and immunohistochemical characterization of small and large duct cholangiocarcinomas in a Western cohort: A panel of pCEA, CRP, N-cadherin, and albumin in situ hybridization aids in subclassification.

Two morphologic subtypes of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA), small duct and large duct, are now recognized, and importantly, these subtypes are associated with distinct molecular pathways and therapeutic options. Initial studies demonstrated the feasibility of morphologic subclassification and helped characterize the immunoprofile of the subtypes. However, few studies have been undertaken in Western countries where incidence of the subtypes is likely distinct from that in the East.

Clinicopathologic characteristics of ductal carcinoma in situ and risk of subsequent invasive breast cancer: a multicenter, population-based cohort study.

Purpose: To study the association between clinicopathologic characteristics of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and risk of subsequent invasive breast cancer (IBC).

Methods: We conducted a case-control study nested in a multicenter, population-based cohort of 8175 women aged ≥ 18 years with DCIS diagnosed between 1987 and 2016 and followed for a median duration of 83 months. Cases (n = 497) were women with a first diagnosis of DCIS who developed a subsequent IBC ≥ 6 months later; controls (2/case; n = 959) were matched to cases on age at and calendar year of DCIS diagnosis.

Key Concepts in Machine Learning and Clinical Applications in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit.

Purpose Of Review: Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology will significantly alter critical care cardiology, from our understanding of diseases to the way in which we communicate with patients and colleagues. We summarize the potential applications of AI in the cardiac intensive care unit (CICU) by reviewing current evidence, future developments and possible challenges.

Recent Findings: Machine Learning (ML) methods have been leveraged to improve interpretation and discover novel uses for diagnostic tests such as the ECG and echocardiograms.

Phoenix Comprehensive Assessment of Pectus Excavatum Symptoms (PCAPES).

Background: Pectus excavatum (PE) can cause cardiopulmonary compression with a wide range of symptoms and psychosocial effects. Few validated surveys assess the extensive symptomatology of the adult pectus population. A comprehensive symptom survey was developed and validated with outcomes presented.

Consensus Recommendations for the Management of Neurosarcoidosis: A Delphi Survey of Experts Across the United States.

Background And Objectives: Neurosarcoidosis poses a diagnostic and management challenge due to its rarity, phenotypic variability, and lack of randomized controlled studies to guide treatment selection. Recommendations for management based on expert opinion are useful in clinical practice and provide a framework for designing prospective studies.

Methods: In this Delphi survey study, specialists with experience in managing patients with neurosarcoidosis were invited to anonymously complete 2 surveys about key elements of evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and long-term management of neurosarcoidosis.

Discovery of PRMT5 N-Terminal TIM Barrel Ligands from Machine-Learning-Based Virtual Screening.

Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5), which symmetrically dimethylates cytosolic and nuclear proteins, has been demonstrated as an important cancer therapeutic target. In recent years, many advanced achievements in PRMT5 inhibitor development have been made. Most PRMT5 inhibitors in the clinical trial focus on targeting the C-terminal catalytic domain, whereas developing small molecules to interrupt the PRMT5/pICLn (methylosome subunit) protein-protein interface is also of great importance for inhibiting PRMT5.

FLASH Radiotherapy: From In Vivo Data to Clinical Translation.

Delivery of radiotherapy (RT) at ultra-high dose rates or FLASH radiotherapy (FLASH-RT) is an emerging treatment option for patients with cancer that could increase survival outcomes and quality of life. In vivo data across a multitude of normal tissues and associated tumors have been published demonstrating the FLASH effect while bringing attention to the need for additional research. Combination of FLASH-RT with other treatment options including spatially fractionated RT, immunotherapy, and usage in the setting of reirradiation could also provide additional benefit.