Quality Improvement Project Reducing Sputum Cultures for Pediatric Patients With a Tracheostomy.

Background And Objectives: Current research implies overuse of diagnostic testing and overtreatment in children with tracheostomies. There are no guidelines for obtaining sputum cultures for these patients, yet they are commonly obtained without significantly affecting management or outcomes. The aim of our quality improvement project was to decrease rate of sputum cultures in this population by 50%, from 64% to 32%.

Uptake of Same-Day Discharge for Patients Undergoing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy in the Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative.

Introduction: Postoperative length of stay (LOS) after robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) is a potentially modifiable aspect of prostate cancer care. Our objective was to evaluate the use of same-day discharge (SDD) RARP and compare pre- and perioperative characteristics of these men with those who underwent hospitalization postoperatively.

Methods: Perioperative outcomes for patients undergoing RARP were evaluated from the Michigan Urological Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MUSIC) registry.

A Unique Case of Non-paraneoplastic Lambert-Eaton Myasthenic Syndrome Treated With Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin: A Case Report and Review of Literature.

Lambert-Eaton myasthenic syndrome (LEMS) is an autoimmune neuromuscular disorder caused by pathogenic autoantibodies directed against voltage-gated calcium channels present on the presynaptic nerve terminal. For LEMS patients refractory to initial symptomatic treatment with amifampridine, immunomodulatory therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is often utilized. However, in the authors' review of literature, the utility of subcutaneous immunoglobulin (SCIG) in the treatment of LEMS has been scarcely reported.

Diagnosis of Post-Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome in Children: Time for a Rethink?

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is undertaken in children with the aim of curing a range of malignant and nonmalignant conditions. Unfortunately, pulmonary complications, especially bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS), are significant sources of morbidity and mortality post-HSCT. Currently, criteria developed by a National Institutes of Health (NIH) working group are used to diagnose BOS in children post-HSCT.

Adult and infantile seborrheic dermatitis: update on current state of evidence and potential research frontiers.

Seborrheic dermatitis (SD) is a highly prevalent dermatological condition globally. The condition demonstrates bimodal presentation with what is commonly thought to be two subtypes: adult/adolescent seborrheic dermatitis (ASD) and infantile seborrheic dermatitis (ISD). Despite the common prevalence of ASD and ISD, there remains uncertainty around the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms, risk factors, and appropriate classification of the disease(s).

A Quality Initiative to Prioritize Enteral Feeding in Bronchiolitis.

Introduction: Recent studies have identified enteral feeding as a safe alternative to intravenous fluid hydration for inpatients with bronchiolitis receiving respiratory support. Specifically, it can improve vital signs, shorten time on high-flow nasal cannula, and is associated with reduced length of stay. We aimed to increase the percentage of patients receiving enteral feeding on admission with mild-to-moderate bronchiolitis, including those on high-flow nasal cannula, from 83% to 95% within 6 months.

Obesity-related neuropathy: the new epidemic.

Purpose Of Review: To examine the evidence evaluating the association between obesity and neuropathy as well as potential interventions.

Recent Findings: Although diabetes has long been associated with neuropathy, additional metabolic syndrome components, including obesity, are increasingly linked to neuropathy development, regardless of glycemic status. Preclinical rodent models as well as clinical studies are shedding light on the mechanisms of obesity-related neuropathy as well as challenges associated with slowing progression.

Estimating the Seroincidence of Scrub Typhus using Antibody Dynamics after Infection.

Scrub typhus, a vector-borne bacterial infection, is an important but neglected disease globally. Accurately characterizing the burden is challenging because of nonspecific symptoms and limited diagnostics. Prior seroepidemiology studies have struggled to find consensus cutoffs that permit comparisons of estimates across contexts and time.

Neighborhood Racialized Economic Polarization, Home Visiting Coverage, and Adverse Birth Outcomes in a Medicaid-eligible Population.

Background: Residential polarization shaped by racial segregation and concentrations of wealth (hereafter neighborhood racialized economic polarization) results in both highly deprived and highly privileged neighborhoods. Numerous studies have found a negative relationship between neighborhood racialized economic polarization and birth outcomes. We investigated whether community-informed home visiting programs achieve high rates of service coverage in highly deprived neighborhoods and can attenuate the deleterious effect of neighborhood polarization on birth outcomes.

Autograft Versus Allograft in Posterolateral Corner Reconstruction: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Background: Several approaches to surgical techniques and graft types exist in posterolateral corner (PLC) reconstruction. The literature lacks knowledge regarding outcomes after autograft versus allograft reconstruction for PLC injuries.

Purpose: To comprehensively review the current literature on PLC reconstruction and compare outcomes between autograft and allograft tissues.

Foregoing Preoperative Antibiotics in Clean, Implant-Based Hand Surgery Does Not Increase Postoperative Infectious Risks.

Purpose: Although data support foregoing preoperative antibiotics for outpatient, soft-tissue procedures, there is a paucity of evidence regarding antibiotics for implant-based hand procedures. The purpose of this investigation was to assess early postoperative infectious concerns for patients undergoing implant-based hand surgery, regardless of preoperative antibiotic use.

Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was performed consisting of all patients undergoing implant-based hand procedures between January 2015 and October 2021.

Comparison of 3D computer-assisted planning with and without patient-specific instrumentation for severe bone defects in reverse total shoulder arthroplasty.

Background: Preoperative planning is an integral aspect of managing complex deformity in reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). The purpose of this study was to compare the success of patient-specific instrumentation (PSI) and 3D computer-assisted planning with standard instrumentation (non-PSI) in achieving planned corrections of the glenoid among patients undergoing RSA with severe bony deformity requiring glenoid bone grafts.

Methods: A retrospective case-control study was performed, including all patients that underwent RSA with combined bone grafting procedures (BIO-RSA or structural bone grafting) for severe glenoid deformity by a single study between June 2016 and July 2023.

Cardiac Implications of Itraconazole Therapy in Histoplasmosis Patients.

A male patient in his 60s, with a history of tobacco use, presented with fever, weight loss, and cough, and was ultimately diagnosed with histoplasmosis. Initial treatment with itraconazole (ITZ) led to symptom improvement. However, two months later, he returned with lower extremity swelling and dyspnea.

Unilateral avascular necrosis of the right hip in an HIV patient with tearing of the rectus femoris and adductor longus muscles.

A man in his 20s with a medical history of syphilis, chlamydia and HIV presented to the emergency department (ED) with 2 months of right hip pain and was found to have advanced avascular necrosis (AVN) of the right femoral head with secondary haemorrhage. The patient lacked the common risk factors of AVN in patients with HIV (PWH): ≥10 years of HIV diagnosis, extended duration on highly active antiretroviral therapy, trauma, corticosteroid use, alcohol abuse, systemic lupus erythematosus, obesity, smoking and dyslipidaemia. Given the extensive destructive changes in the hip joint and muscles, a right hip resection arthroplasty was performed, and the patient recovered well postoperatively.

deficiency modulates the stromal environment in the pretumorigenic rat mammary gland.

Background: Neurofibromin, coded by the tumor suppressor gene, is the main negative regulator of the RAS pathway and is frequently mutated in various cancers. Women with Neurofibromatosis Type I (NF1)-a tumor predisposition syndrome caused by a germline mutation-have an increased risk of developing aggressive breast cancer with poorer prognosis. The mechanism by which mutations lead to breast cancer tumorigenesis is not well understood.