Management of patients with acute aortic syndrome through a regional rapid transport system.

Objective: The objective of this study was to describe the outcomes of patients with acute aortic syndrome (AAS) during and after transfer to a regional aortic center by a rapid transport system.

Methods: Review of patients with AAS who were transferred by a rapid transport system to a regional aortic center was performed. Data regarding demographics, diagnosis, comorbidities, transportation, and hospital course were acquired.

Utility of Ultrasound in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Follow-up of Prostate Cancer: State of the Art.

Prostate cancer screening currently consists of serum prostate-specific antigen and digital rectal examination, followed by transrectal ultrasound-guided biopsy for diagnostic confirmation. Although the current paradigm of prostate cancer screening has led to a decrease in advanced disease and cancer-related mortality, these techniques have limitations in terms of sensitivity and specificity, resulting in missed cancers that are clinically significant and the overdetection of clinically insignificant cancers. New imaging techniques and technologies are required to improve the detection of prostate cancer.

The value of a multiplexed gastrointestinal pathogen panel in 2 distinct patient populations.

We assess the value of the Luminex xTAG Gastrointestinal Pathogen Panel (GPP) in 2 different patient populations: an uninsured, indigent population seeking primary care, and a tertiary care hospital specializing in surgical, transplant, and oncology care. Stool specimens collected April to August 2013 for infectious workup were tested on the GPP, and discordant results were further analyzed by alternative methods. Compared to the tertiary care setting, stool pathogen detection was nearly twice as frequent in the primary care setting (25% versus 14%; P<0.

Posterior Mini-Incision Approach for Total Hip Replacement.

We developed a modification of the posterior mini-incision for total hip arthroplasty, which was initially used by Sculco at The Hospital for Special Surgery, in response to the movement in the orthopaedic community to perform total hip arthroplasty with smaller incisions. Our approach preserves the piriformis and quadratus femoris muscles of the external rotators, uses three incisions into the capsule but does not excise the capsule, does not incise the tensor fascia/iliotibial band, and leaves intact the insertion of the gluteus maximus onto the femur. We have used this incision since 2004, and our published results and those of others show that the greatest advantage is cosmetic and patients' perception of less violation of their body.

AXIN2 expression predicts prostate cancer recurrence and regulates invasion and tumor growth.

Background: Treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) may be improved by identifying biological mechanisms of tumor growth that directly impact clinical disease progression. We investigated whether genes associated with a highly tumorigenic, drug resistant, progenitor phenotype impact PCa biology and recurrence.

Methods: Radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens (±disease recurrence, N = 276) were analyzed by qRT-PCR to quantify expression of genes associated with self-renewal, drug resistance, and tumorigenicity in prior studies.

A multicenter, pediatric quality improvement initiative improves surgical wound class assignment, but is it enough?

Background/purpose: Surgical wound classification (SWC) is widely utilized for surgical site infection (SSI) risk stratification and hospital comparisons. We previously demonstrated that nearly half of common pediatric operations are incorrectly classified in eleven hospitals. We aimed to improve multicenter, intraoperative SWC assignment through targeted quality improvement (QI) interventions.

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy Manifesting as Neuropathy With Liability to Pressure Palsies: A Case Report.

Introduction: Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is a progressive demyelinating neuropathy, which typically presents with proximal and distal neuropathic symptoms and is typically responsive to immunomodulatory therapies. Many variants have been subsequently described in the literature and have similarly shown to be responsive to immunotherapy.

Case Presentation: We present a case of a 43-year-old Middle Eastern/Arabic man presenting with symptoms of mixed sensorimotor neuropathy most evident at entrapment sites mimicking hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies.

Evolution from electrophysiologic to hemodynamic monitoring: the story of left atrial and pulmonary artery pressure monitors.

Heart failure (HF) is a costly, challenging and highly prevalent medical condition. Hospitalization for acute decompensation is associated with high morbidity and mortality. Despite application of evidence-based medical therapies and technologies, HF remains a formidable challenge for virtually all healthcare systems.

Posterior Mini-Incision With Primary Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Nine to Ten Year Follow Up Study.

The question has been raised as to whether small incision surgery will compromise long term results of total hip arthroplasty. We report nine to ten years' outcome with posterior mini-incision. Radiographs were measured for component position, polyethylene wear, fixation, and osteolysis.

Perampanel in the treatment of partial seizures: Time to onset and duration of most common adverse events from pooled Phase III and extension studies.

Perampanel (PER) is a novel noncompetitive AMPA-receptor antagonist approved in over 40 countries for treatment of partial seizures. The safety and tolerability of PER have been well-documented in three double-blind, randomized, placebo (PBO)-controlled Phase III studies and an open-label extension (OLE). This post hoc analysis evaluated the occurrence and characteristics of the most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) associated with PER.

Randomized Trial of Studer Pouch versus T-Pouch Orthotopic Ileal Neobladder in Patients with Bladder Cancer.

Purpose: The need to prevent reflux in the construction of an orthotopic ileal neobladder is controversial. We designed the USC-STAR trial to determine whether the T-pouch neobladder that included an antireflux mechanism was superior to the Studer pouch in patients with bladder cancer undergoing radical cystectomy.

Materials And Methods: This single center, randomized, controlled trial recruited patients with clinically nonmetastatic bladder cancer scheduled to undergo radical cystectomy with neobladder.

Pressure-controlled treadmill training in chronic stroke: a case study with AlterG.

Background And Purpose: Body-weight-supported treadmill training has been shown to be an effective intervention to improve walking characteristics for individuals who have experienced a stroke. A pressure-controlled treadmill utilizes a sealed chamber in which air pressure can be altered in a controlled manner to counteract the effects of gravity. The focus of this case study was to assess the immediate and short-term impact of a pressure-controlled treadmill to improve gait parameters, reduce fall risk, improve participation, and reduce the self-perceived negative impact of stroke in an individual with chronic stroke.

Evaluation of a telenovela designed to improve knowledge and behavioral intentions among Hispanic patients with end-stage renal disease in Southern California.

Objectives: Culturally relevant education is needed to improve rates of successful kidney transplantation among Hispanic patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study examined whether patients' knowledge about kidney disease, postoperative care, and proactive health practices improved after watching a telenovela series about ESRD.

Design: 334 ESRD patients and 94 family members/caregivers were assigned to watch a telenovela ('Fixing Paco,' a bilingual health education film) or receive standard of care at a transplant center or at a dialysis clinic.

Surgical wound misclassification: a multicenter evaluation.

Background: Surgical wound classification (SWC) is used by hospitals, quality collaboratives, and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid to stratify patients for their risk for surgical site infection. Although these data can be used to compare centers, the validity and reliability of SWC as currently practiced has not been well studied. Our objective was to assess the reliability of SWC in a multicenter fashion.

Precision of robotic guided instrumentation for acetabular component positioning.

Robotic computerized instrumentation that guides bone preparation and cup implantation in total hip arthroplasty was studied. In 38 patients (43 hips) intraoperative cup inclination and anteversion were validated by postoperative CT scans. Planned inclination was 39.

Coronal plane fracture of the femoral condyles: anatomy, injury patterns, and approach to management of the Hoffa fragment.

Objective: The purpose of this article is to provide a review of coronal fractures of the femoral condyles, known as Hoffa fractures. This includes a review of the normal anatomy of the femoral condyles, examples of the injury, and postoperative imaging findings after surgical treatments.

Conclusions: Knowledge of anatomy with related pathology, orthopedic trends, imaging findings, and complications, is important in assessing Hoffa fractures.

Circulating tumor cells in prostate cancer: a better predictor of survival than prostate specific antigen?

Prostate specific antigen has been extensively studied and represents the most common biomarker across the spectrum of prostate cancer. Circulating tumor cells are a more recent method for monitoring patients with metastatic prostate cancer and have shown great promise in predicting outcomes. We review the prognostic capabilities of these markers to determine if circulating tumor cells should unseat prostate specific antigen as the test of choice in prostate cancer.

Differentiation of lipoma from liposarcoma on MRI using texture and shape analysis.

Rationale And Objectives: To determine if differentiation of lipoma from liposarcoma on magnetic resonance imaging can be improved using computer-assisted diagnosis (CAD).

Materials And Methods: Forty-four histologically proven lipomatous tumors (24 lipomas and 20 liposarcomas) were studied retrospectively. Studies were performed at 1.