Behavioral Mimicry as a Strategy to Increase Drinking Behaviors in Older Adults.

Purpose Individuals with dysphagia, particularly in the presence of dementia, are at high risk for decreased nutrition and hydration. Unfortunately, current treatment options are not without limitations and often ignore the crucial social aspects of mealtimes. The aim of this exploratory, proof-of-concept study was to examine whether the social phenomenon of nonconscious behavioral mimicry can increase drinking behaviors in healthy older adults.

ACR-ASTRO Practice Parameter for Communication: Radiation Oncology.

Aim/objectives/background: Timely, accurate, and effective communications are critical to quality in contemporary medical practices. Radiation oncology incorporates the science and technology of complex integrated radiation treatment delivery and the art of managing individual patients. Through written physical and/or electronic reports and direct communication, radiation oncologists convey critical information regarding patient care, services provided, and quality of care.

Automated MRI-Based Deep Learning Model for Detection of Alzheimer's Disease Process.

In the context of neuro-pathological disorders, neuroimaging has been widely accepted as a clinical tool for diagnosing patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The advanced deep learning method, a novel brain imaging technique, was applied in this study to evaluate its contribution to improving the diagnostic accuracy of AD. Three-dimensional convolutional neural networks (3D-CNNs) were applied with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to execute binary and ternary disease classification models.

Advanced ADC Histogram, Perfusion, and Permeability Metrics Show an Association with Survival and Pseudoprogression in Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma: A Report from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium.

Background And Purpose: Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma is a lethal childhood brain cancer with dismal prognosis and MR imaging is the primary methodology used for diagnosis and monitoring. Our aim was to determine whether advanced diffusion, perfusion, and permeability MR imaging metrics predict survival and pseudoprogression in children with newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma.

Materials And Methods: A clinical trial using the poly (adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor veliparib concurrently with radiation therapy, followed by maintenance therapy with veliparib + temozolomide, in children with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma was conducted by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium.

Magnetic Sphincter Augmentation for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.

Magnetic sphincter augmentation is an effective and safe surgical method for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). The device has been compared with twice-daily proton pump inhibitor therapy and laparoscopic fundoplication (in randomized trials and prospective cohort studies, respectively). Magnetic sphincter augmentation was superior to medical therapy and equivalent to surgery for the relief of GERD symptoms.

Safety and efficacy of direct-acting oral anticoagulants versus warfarin in kidney transplant recipients: a retrospective single-center cohort study.

Despite the increased use, comparative safety and efficacy of direct-acting oral anticoagulants (DOACs) against warfarin have not been well studied in kidney transplant recipients. In this single-center retrospective study, we evaluated 197 adult kidney transplant recipients on DOAC or warfarin between January 1, 2011, and June 30, 2018. The primary outcome was incidence of major bleeding defined as a hemoglobin decrease ≥2 g/dl, blood transfusion ≥2 units, or symptomatic bleeding in a critical area or organ.

Wound Irrigation for Open Fractures.

» The optimal regimen for wound irrigation in the setting of an open fracture has been a subject of debate. Basic science evidence as well as results from a recent prospective clinical trial have shed new light on this controversial topic. » While normal saline solution appears to be the optimal irrigation agent, the optimal timing and volume often are determined by the surgeon.

Predictors of Major Adverse Limb Events after Open Forefoot Amputation in Patients with Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia.

Background: Management of patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) and extensive foot necrosis presents a challenge for limb salvage. Our study evaluates preoperative risk factors that contributed to durability and efficacy of limb salvage after open transmetatarsal amputation (TMA) in patients with critical limb-threatening ischemia.

Methods: We abstracted data from patients who underwent open TMA at Los Angeles County-University of Southern California Medical Center and Keck Hospital of University of Southern California from 2009 to 2018.

Striving for more just allocation of liver allografts between patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma: successes and challenges.

Purpose Of Review: Recently the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) adopted new rules for the allocation of liver allografts for recipients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hopes of removing regional variation in HCC practice and regional differences in patient survival. Understanding how previous changes to HCC allocation have both succeeded and failed to match the pretransplant mortality of HCC and non-HCC patients on the waitlist will help us to better evaluate these changes and predict where we may again fail.

Recent Findings: Previous revisions of the HCC allocation rules were successful in more accurately matching the waitlist mortality of HCC and non-HCC patients.

Physicochemical Investigation into Major League Baseballs in the Era of Unprecedented Rise in Home Runs.

A major attraction of baseball is the home run. Throughout baseball's history, some seasonal increases in home run numbers have been tied to external influences, such as lowering the pitching mound or a change in the ball manufacturer. In Major League Baseball, a recent surge in home runs has led to speculation about the baseball being "juiced" or altered in a way to make it fly farther.

Endovascular septal fenestration using a radiofrequency wire to salvage inadvertent false lumen deployment of a frozen elephant trunk stent graft.

We report a case of a frozen elephant trunk arch repair, where the stent graft was unintentionally placed into the false lumen. Postoperative imaging demonstrated an enlarged false lumen with no thoracic aorta fenestrations that could be traversed to place another thoracic endovascular aortic repair endograft into the true lumen. An atraumatic radiofrequency wire (PowerWire, Baylis Medical, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) was used to create a new septal fenestration, enabling thoracic endovascular aortic repair endograft extension into the thoracic true lumen.

A budget impact analysis of a magnetic sphincter augmentation device for the treatment of medication-refractory mechanical gastroesophageal reflux disease: a United States payer perspective.

Background: Medication-refractory gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is sometimes treated with laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication (LNF); however, this is a non-reversible procedure associated with important side effects and the need for repeat surgery. Removable magnetic sphincter augmentation (MSA) devices are an alternative, effective, and safe treatment option for such patients who have some lower esophageal sphincter function. The objective of this study was to assess the economic impact of introducing MSA technology (i.

Pelvic floor ultrasound: when, why, and how?

Pelvic floor disorders are a significant medical issue, reportedly affecting nearly one in four women in the United States. Nonetheless, until the last decade, there has been relatively limited imaging research into this highly prevalent disorder. The three major imaging modalities utilized to assess pelvic floor function are ultrasound, MRI and fluoroscopy.

Successful treatment and survival after gunshot wound to the aortic arch with bullet embolism to superficial femoral artery.

Mortality after gunshot wounds to the thoracic aorta ranges from 92% to 100%. Survival is almost always in patients with injury from low-caliber, low-velocity bullets with hemorrhage contained by the wall of the aorta. Bullet embolization, even rarer with a reported incidence of 0.

A systematic approach to the hip-spine relationship and its applications to total hip arthroplasty.

There remains confusion in the literature with regard to the spinopelvic relationship, and its contribution to ideal acetabular component position. Critical assessment of the literature has been limited by use of conflicting terminology and definitions of new concepts that further confuse the topic. In 2017, the concept of a Hip-Spine Workgroup was created with the first meeting held at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in 2018.

The Potential for QT Interval Prolongation with Chronic Azithromycin Therapy in Adult Cystic Fibrosis Patients.

Introduction: Oral azithromycin (AZM) has been shown to reduce airway inflammation and disrupt biofilm formation. However, chronic AZM therapy may result in QT interval (QTc) prolongation.

Objectives: The goals of this study were twofold: (i) to characterize the risk of QTc prolongation in adult patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) receiving AZM and other potential QTc-prolonging agents, and (ii) to describe and capture the number of potential QTc-prolonging agents patients with CF are prescribed.

A Predictive Scoring Model for Short-Term Local Recurrent Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Based on Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

Objective: To predict the early identification of recurrence based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) patients.

Methods: The clinical and MRI data of 215 patients with local recurrent NPC were retrospectively reviewed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to distinguish the independent risk factors for the short-term (less than 24 months) local recurrence of NPC.

Short-term PM and emergency department admissions for selective cardiovascular and respiratory diseases in Beijing, China.

Background: Few studies have explored PM's connection with specific respiratory and cardiovascular emergency department admissions (EDAs). This study aimed to examine the overall effects of PM on EDAs for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including specifically, cerebrovascular events (CVE), ischemic heart disease (IHD), arrhythmia, heart failure (HF), upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma.

Methods: We collected daily data for EDAs from the 10 largest hospitals in Beijing, between January 2013 and December 2013 as well as daily measurements of PM from 17 stations in Beijing.

Radiomics improves efficiency for differentiating subclinical pheochromocytoma from lipid-poor adenoma: a predictive, preventive and personalized medical approach in adrenal incidentalomas.

Objectives: This study aims to define a radiomic signature for pre-operative differentiation between subclinical pheochromocytoma (sPHEO) and lipid-poor adrenal adenoma (LPA) in adrenal incidentaloma. The goal was to apply a predictive, preventive, and personalized medical approach to the management of adrenal tumors.

Patients And Methods: This retrospective study consisted of 265 consecutive patients (training cohort, 212 (LPA, 145; sPHEO, 67); validation cohort, 53 (LPA, 36; sPHEO, 17)).

Fourth Time Redo Common Femoral Vein Reconstruction with a Novel Hybrid Technique.

Background: Iliofemoral vein thrombosis can lead to debilitating edema and venous claudication that significantly worsens quality of life, especially in young active individuals. Venous reconstruction becomes increasingly complex and has worsening patency with subsequent revisions so preoperative planning is critical to success.

Methods: We report a case of a 54-year-old man in active military service with profoundly symptomatic leg swelling after failure of 3 previous common femoral vein (CFV) reconstructions.