Investigation of dosimetric effect of beam current fluctuations in synchrotron-based proton PBS continuous scanning.

In proton pencil beam scanning (PBS) continuous delivery, the beam is continuously delivered without interruptions between spots. For synchrotron-based systems, the extracted beam current exhibits a spill structure, and recent publications on beam current measurements have demonstrated significant fluctuations around the nominal values. These fluctuations potentially lead to dose deviations from those calculated assuming a stable beam current.

Beyond the discomfort: understanding and managing sexual pain in women, a comprehensive case-based discussion.

Introduction: Sexual pain has a profound impact on individuals, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, and affects women more often than men. It adversely affects both sexual function and interpersonal relationships. Despite its prevalence, sexual pain in women often remains unaddressed and untreated.

Dermatologic manifestations of zoonotic diseases transmitted by dogs: "Spot" could give you spots.

The bond between humans and dogs is precious and has been treasured since ancient times. Dog ownership is linked to numerous health benefits, such as increased physical activity and social functioning and decreased depression and cardiovascular events. However, dogs can transmit zoonotic diseases to humans, many of which present with cutaneous findings.

The impact of 3-dimensional humeral planning and standard transfer instrumentation on reconstruction of native humeral anatomy for anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Preoperative 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT)-based planning for anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA) has grown in popularity in the past decade with the primary focus on the glenoid. Little research has evaluated if humeral planning has any effect on the surgical execution of the humeral cut or the positioning of the prosthesis.

Methods: Three surgeons performed a prospective study using 3D-printed humeri printed from CTs of existing patients, which were chosen to be -3, -1, 0, 1, and 3 standard deviations of all patients in a large database.

Defining the KRAS- and ERK-dependent transcriptome in KRAS-mutant cancers.

How the oncogene drives cancer growth remains poorly understood. Therefore, we established a systemwide portrait of KRAS- and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent gene transcription in KRAS-mutant cancer to delineate the molecular mechanisms of growth and of inhibitor resistance. Unexpectedly, our KRAS-dependent gene signature diverges substantially from the frequently cited Hallmark KRAS signaling gene signature, is driven predominantly through the ERK mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade, and accurately reflects KRAS- and ERK-regulated gene transcription in KRAS-mutant cancer patients.

Population-Level Identification of Patients With Lynch Syndrome for Clinical Care, Quality Improvement, and Research.

Purpose: Identification of those at risk of hereditary cancer syndromes using electronic health record (EHR) data sources is important for clinical care, quality improvement, and research. We describe diagnostic processes, previously seldom reported, for a common hereditary cancer syndrome, Lynch syndrome (LS), using EHR data within a community-based, multicenter, demographically diverse health system.

Methods: Within a retrospective cohort enrolled between 2015 and 2020 at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, we assessed electronic diagnostic domains for LS including (1) family history of LS-associated cancer; (2) personal history of LS-associated cancer; (3) LS screening via mismatch repair deficiency (MMRD) testing of newly diagnosed malignancy; (4) germline genetic test results; and (5) clinician-entered diagnostic codes for LS.

The relationship of rate and pause features to the communicative participation of people living with ALS.

Introduction/aims: Many people living with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (PALS) report restrictions in their day-to-day communication (communicative participation). However, little is known about which speech features contribute to these restrictions. This study evaluated the effects of common speech symptoms in PALS (reduced overall speaking rate, slowed articulation rate, and increased pausing) on communicative participation restrictions.

Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease-Associated Peripheral Arthritis: A Systematic Review.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-associated peripheral spondyloarthritis (pSpA) decreases quality of life and remains poorly understood. Given the prevalence of this condition and its negative impact, it is surprising that evidence-based disease definitions and diagnostic strategies are lacking. This systematic review summarizes available data to facilitate development and validation of diagnostics, patient-reported outcomes, and imaging indices specific to this condition.

Dynamic volume-outcome association for esophagectomies: Do current volume thresholds still apply?

Background: It is unknown if the current minimum case volume recommendation of 20 cases per year per hospital is applicable to contemporary practice.

Methods: Patients undergoing esophageal resection between 2005 and 2015 were identified in the National Cancer Database. High, medium, and low-volume hospital strata were defined by quartiles.

A global consensus on the definitions, diagnosis and management of fibrostenosing small bowel Crohn's disease in clinical practice.

Fibrostenosis of the small bowel is common in patients with Crohn's disease. No consensus recommendations on definition, diagnosis and management in clinical practice are currently available. In this Consensus Statement, we present a clinical practice RAND/UCLA appropriateness study on the definition, diagnosis and clinical management of fibrostenosing Crohn's disease.

Comparative Analysis of Fusion Strategies for Imaging and Non-imaging Data - Use-case of Hospital Discharge Prediction.

Accurate prediction of future clinical events such as discharge from hospital can not only improve hospital resource management but also provide an indicator of a patient's clinical condition. Within the scope of this work, we perform a comparative analysis of deep learning based fusion strategies against traditional single source models for prediction of discharge from hospital by fusing information encoded in two diverse but relevant data modalities, i.e.

ACR Appropriateness Criteria® Clinically Suspected Adnexal Mass, No Acute Symptoms: 2023 Update.

Asymptomatic adnexal masses are commonly encountered in daily radiology practice. Although the vast majority of these masses are benign, a small subset have a risk of malignancy, which require gynecologic oncology referral for best treatment outcomes. Ultrasound, using a combination of both transabdominal, transvaginal, and duplex Doppler technique can accurately characterize the majority of these lesions.

Operating Room Air May Harbor Pathogens: The Role of an Ultraviolet Air Filtration Unit.

Background: One important factor for the prevention of surgical site infections is ultraclean air in the operating room (OR). Still, the direct sterilization potential of most technologies, especially in a dynamic clinical setting, is not well understood. We aimed to determine and compare the microbial presence from the inlet and outlet flow of a filtration unit with crystalline ultraviolet-C (C-UVC) light.

Toward Transparency and Trust: Assessing and Addressing Key Ethical Concerns in Normothermic Regional Perfusion.

Normothermic Regional Perfusion, or NRP, is a method of donated organ reperfusion using cardiopulmonary bypass or a modified extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) circuit after circulatory death while leaving organs in the dead donor's corpse. Despite its potential, several key ethical issues remain unaddressed by this technology.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Velopharynx: Clinical Findings in Patients with Velopharyngeal Insufficiency.

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the only imaging modality capable of directly visualizing the levator veli palatini (LVP) muscles: the primary muscles responsible for velopharyngeal closure during speech. MRI has been used to describe normal anatomy and physiology of the velopharynx in research studies, but there is limited experience with use of MRI in the clinical evaluation of patients with velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI).

Methods: MRI was used to evaluate the velopharyngeal mechanism in patients presenting for VPI management.

Methimazole Desensitization in a Patient Experiencing a Thionamide-induced Hypersensitivity Reaction.

Patients with newly diagnosed Graves disease often elect for treatment with the drug methimazole (MMI) over alternative therapies. However, MMI can commonly result in skin allergy that in severe cases can lead to discontinuation of therapy. We present a case of Graves thyrotoxicosis with a delayed hypersensitivity reaction while on MMI.