Transition of Patients with Opioid Use Disorder from Buprenorphine to Extended-Release Naltrexone: A Randomized Clinical Trial Assessing Two Transition Regimens.

Background And Objective: When patients seek to discontinue buprenorphine (BUP) treatment, monthly injectable extended-release naltrexone (XR-NTX) may help them avoid relapse. The efficacy of low ascending doses of oral NTX vs placebo for patients transitioning from BUP to XR-NTX is evaluated in this study.

Methods: In a phase 3, hybrid residential/outpatient study, clinically stable participants with opioid use disorder (N = 101), receiving BUP for more than or equal to 3 months and seeking antagonist treatment, were randomized (1:1) to 7 residential days of descending doses of BUP and low ascending doses of oral NTX (NTX/BUP, n = 50) or placebo (PBO-N/BUP, n = 51).

Dual-Plane versus Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction in High-Body Mass Index Patients.

Background: Breast reconstruction in patients with a high body mass index (BMI) (≥30 kg/m) is technically challenging and is associated with increased postoperative complications. The optimal reconstructive approach for these patients remains to be determined. This study compared outcomes of prepectoral and dual-plane reconstruction in high-BMI patients to determine whether there was an association between postoperative complications and the plane of reconstruction.

Efficacy of lofexidine for mitigating opioid withdrawal symptoms: results from two randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

Fear of opioid withdrawal syndrome (OWS) often dissuades opioid discontinuation. Lofexidine is an FDA-approved, alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist for treatment of OWS. Pivotal trial results from the per-protocol statistical analyses have been published.

Abnormal Eating Patterns Cause Circadian Disruption and Promote Alcohol-Associated Colon Carcinogenesis.

Background & Aims: Alcohol intake with circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) increases colon cancer risk. We hypothesized that eating during or around physiologic rest time, a common habit in modern society, causes CRD and investigated the mechanisms by which it promotes alcohol-associated colon carcinogenesis.

Methods: The effect of feeding time on CRD was assessed using B6 mice expressing a fusion protein of PERIOD2 and LUCIFERASE (PER2::LUC) were used to model colon polyposis and to assess the effects of feeding schedules, alcohol consumption, and prebiotic treatment on microbiota composition, short-chain fatty acid levels, colon inflammation, and cancer risk.

Development of the PC-7, a Quantifiable Assessment of Spiritual Concerns of Patients Receiving Palliative Care Near the End of Life.

Attending to the religious/spiritual (R/S) concerns of patients is a core component of palliative care. A primary responsibility of the chaplain is to conduct a thorough assessment of palliative care patients' R/S needs and resources. Problems with current approaches to spiritual assessment in all clinical contexts, including palliative care, include limited evidence for their validity, reliability, or clinical usefulness; narrative content; and lack of clinical specificity.

Effect of Body Mass Index on Outcomes after Prepectoral Breast Reconstruction.

Background: Body mass index has been shown to be a predictor of outcomes after subpectoral expander/implant reconstruction, with every unit increase in body mass index increasing the risk of complications by approximately 6 percent. The effect of body mass index on complications after prepectoral reconstruction has not yet been evaluated and is the purpose of this study.

Methods: A total of 366 reconstructed breasts from 197 patients were stratified into five body mass index groups (normal; overweight; and class I, class II, and class III, obese) and postoperative complications were compared across the groups.

Stroke Volume Optimization: Utilization of the Newest Cardiac Vital Sign: Considerations in Recovery from Cardiac Surgery.

The hemodynamic monitoring landscape is rapidly evolving from pressure-based and static parameters to more blood flow-based and dynamic parameters. Consensus guidelines for cardiac surgery state that the pulmonary artery catheter is neither required nor helpful in most patients. In the meantime, critical care has been searching for the alternatives to the pulmonary artery catheter and protocols for use.

Outcomes Utilizing Inspira Implants in Revisionary Reconstructive Surgery.

Background: Inspira round implants have a higher fill ratio than standard round implants and the 3 available implant types have increasing gel cohesivity. Collectively, these features may help provide a fuller upper pole and help reduce the risk of rippling, visible implant edges, and palpability and may be particularly beneficial in patients undergoing prepectoral reconstruction. Patient outcomes after prepectoral revision reconstruction with these implants are reviewed in this study.

Painful Hip Arthroplasty: What Should We Find? Diagnostic Approach and Results.

Introduction: Identifying the source of pain is paramount for determining appropriate treatment and ensuring successful outcome in terms of management and relief of pain. The difficulty is that each surgeon has his or her own way of seeing the problem, and there is no consensus for the evaluation of these patients. The study hypothesis was that it is possible to find the cause of the pain in most cases.

Study of Shadowing Experiences among Chaplains in the Coleman Palliative Medicine Fellowship.

While shadowing is a relatively common practice in the education of many health professionals, it is not widely used in chaplaincy education. Findings from our qualitative study of 12 chaplains who participated in the Coleman Palliative Medicine Training Program suggest it may offer benefits for practicing chaplains. In interviews with seven fellows who shadowed more experienced palliative care (PC) chaplains and the five mentors who were shadowed at their work settings, participants reported opportunities for mutual learning, self-reflection, and collegiality.

Contribution of Sensory Processing to Chronic Constipation in Preschool Children.

Objective: To assess differences in sensory processing patterns between children with chronic constipation compared with a matched normative sample as well as to examine the extent to which specific sensory processing patterns and modality scores predicted atypical toileting behaviors.

Study Design: We used a cross-sectional comparative design to evaluate differences between children age 3 and 5 years old with constipation (n = 66) and those in a matched control sample (n = 66). We also examined the contribution of sensory processing patterns to atypical toileting behavior in the clinical sample.

Effect of using a wearable device on clinical decision-making and motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson's disease starting transdermal rotigotine patch: A pilot study.

Background: Feedback from wearable biosensors may help assess motor function in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and titrate medication. Kinesia 360 continuously monitors motor symptoms via wrist and ankle sensors.

Methods: PD0049 was a 12-week pilot study to investigate whether using Kinesia 360 at home could improve motor symptom management in PD patients starting transdermal dopamine agonist rotigotine.

Interventions to Promote Oral Medication Adherence in the Pediatric Chronic Illness Population: A Systematic Review From the Children's Oncology Group.

Pediatric oncology protocols frequently include multiple oral medications administered at varied dosing schedules, often for prolonged periods of time. Nonadherence to protocol-directed oral medications may place patients at increased risk for morbidity and mortality. The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the existing body of evidence to determine best-practice recommendations regarding interventions for oral medication adherence in children and adolescents with cancer.

A Prediction Model for Preoperative Risk Assessment in Endometrial Cancer Utilizing Clinical and Molecular Variables.

The utility of comprehensive surgical staging in patients with low risk disease has been questioned. Thus, a reliable means of determining risk would be quite useful. The aim of our study was to create the best performing prediction model to classify endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC) patients into low or high risk using a combination of molecular and clinical-pathological variables.

Computer-assisted navigation as a diagnostic tool in revision total hip arthroplasty: A case report.

Revision total hip arthroplasty is a costly procedure accounting for approximately 14% of all hip arthroplasties. Compounding the cost considerations is the potential for serious injury to the patient when removing existing components. Such injury can result in not only increased morbidity but also dramatically increased costs.

Pharmacomechanical Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis in Acute Femoral-Popliteal Deep Vein Thrombosis: Analysis from a Stratified Randomized Trial.

Background And Objectives:  The Acute Venous Thrombosis: Thrombus Removal with Adjunctive Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis (ATTRACT) trial reported that pharmacomechanical catheter-directed thrombolysis (PCDT) did not reduce post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS), but reduced moderate-to-severe PTS and the severity of PTS symptoms. In this analysis, we examine the effect of PCDT in patients with femoral-popliteal deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (without involvement of more proximal veins).

Patients And Methods:  Within the ATTRACT trial, 300 patients had DVT involving the femoral vein without involvement of the common femoral or iliac veins and were randomized to receive PCDT with anticoagulation or anticoagulation alone (no PCDT).

Safety and Efficacy of Lofexidine for Medically Managed Opioid Withdrawal: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial.

Objectives: To investigate the safety and efficacy of lofexidine for treating opioid withdrawal syndrome (OWS) and facilitating completion of opioid withdrawal.

Methods: A multicenter, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted at 18 US centers from June 2013 to December 2014. Participants (n = 603) aged ≥18 years, dependent on short-acting opioids, and seeking withdrawal treatment, randomized 3:3:2 to receive lofexidine 2.

The Impact of Closed Incision Negative Pressure Therapy on Postoperative Breast Reconstruction Outcomes.

Background: Studies report that incision management with closed incision negative pressure therapy (ciNPT) may provide clinical benefits, including protecting surgical incisions, for postsurgical closed incisions (eg, orthopedic, sternotomy, and colorectal). This retrospective analysis compared postoperative outcomes in patients who received ciNPT versus standard of care (SOC) for incision management after breast reconstruction postmastectomy.

Methods: Patient demographics, chemotherapy exposure, surgical technique, ciNPT use, number of drains, time to drain removal, and 90-day postoperative complication rates were analyzed from records of 356 patients (ciNPT = 177, SOC = 179) with 665 closed breast incisions (ciNPT = 331, SOC = 334).

Interprofessional Models for Shared Decision Making: The Role of the Health Care Chaplain.

Shared decision making (SDM) is a central component of patient-centered care; however, a minimal amount is known about what health care chaplains contribute to this process. Data from 463 full-time chaplains practicing in the United States collected by an online survey was analyzed using SPSS 26 for bivariate and multivariate logistical regressions to identify variables impacting chaplain integration into SDM. Coding of free text responses yielded multiple domains for chaplain contributions and barriers.

Evaluation of Tilt-correction of Anteversion on Anteroposterior Pelvic Radiographs in Total Hip Arthroplasty.

Despite inaccuracies due to artifact and variations in patient positioning, anteroposterior (AP) radiographs remain the clinical standard for post-operative evaluation of component placement following total hip arthroplasty (THA). However, cup position, specifically anteversion, can be significantly affected by variations in patient positioning on an X-ray. A major cause of such artifact is unaccounted for pelvic tilt.

Two-centre radiological survivorship of acetabular distraction technique for treatment of chronic pelvic discontinuity: mean five-year follow-up.

Aims The aim of this study was to examine the results of the acetabular distraction technique in achieving implantation of a stable construct, obtaining biological fixation, and producing healing of chronic pelvic discontinuity at revision total hip arthroplasty. Patients and Methods We identified 32 patients treated between 2006 and 2013 who underwent acetabular revision for a chronic pelvic discontinuity using acetabular distraction, and who were radiographically evaluated at a mean of 62 months (25 to 160). Of these patients, 28 (87.

Wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery and basilar apex treated by endovascular techniques: a multicentre, core lab adjudicated study evaluating safety and durability of occlusion (BRANCH).

Background And Purpose: BRANCH (wide-neck bifurcation aneurysms of the middle cerebral artery and basilar apex treated by endovascular techniques) is a multicentre, retrospective study comparing core lab evaluation of angiographic outcomes with self-reported outcomes.

Materials And Methods: Consecutive patients were enrolled from 10 US centres, aged between 18 and 85 with unruptured wide-neck middle cerebral artery (MCA) or basilar apex aneurysms treated endovascularly. Patient demographics, aneurysm morphology, procedural information, mortality and morbidity data and core lab and self-reported modified Raymond Roy (RR) outcomes were obtained.

KRAS mutation and epithelial-macrophage interplay in pancreatic neoplastic transformation.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is characterized by epithelial mutations in KRAS and prominent tumor-associated inflammation, including macrophage infiltration. But knowledge of early interactions between neoplastic epithelium and macrophages in PDA carcinogenesis is limited. Using a pancreatic organoid model, we found that the expression of mutant KRAS in organoids increased (i) ductal to acinar gene expression ratios, (ii) epithelial cells proliferation and (iii) colony formation capacity in vitro, and endowed pancreatic cells with the ability to generate neoplastic tumors in vivo.