Talimogene Laherparepvec (T-VEC) for the Treatment of Advanced Locoregional Melanoma After Failure of Immunotherapy: An International Multi-Institutional Experience.

Background: Talimogene laherparepvec (T-VEC) is an oncolytic virus approved for the treatment of unresectable, recurrent melanoma. The role of T-VEC after progression on systemic immunotherapy (IO) remains undefined. The goal of this study was to characterize the efficacy of T-VEC after failure of IO in patients with unresectable metastatic melanoma.

Systematic Review: Cardiac Metastasis of Lingual Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

Introduction: Lingual squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is an aggressive malignancy that carries significant mortality risk and the potential for cardiac metastasis. The authors performed a systematic review designed to characterize disease progression of LSCC cardiac metastasis by evaluating patient demographics, characteristics, management, and clinical outcomes.

Methods: Two authors independently screened articles in Embase, PubMed, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews up until December 2019 for study eligibility.

Benign Cardiac Neoplasms in the United States: A Thirteen-Year Review.

Cardiac neoplasms are uncommon tumors. For epidemiological purposes, they can be divided into benign and malignant subtypes, with the former occurring at a significantly higher rate than the latter. Due to their uncommon nature, there are few data-driven studies examining the characteristics and trends of benign cardiac neoplasms.

Interventional resealing of preterm premature rupture of the membranes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness and outcomes of interventional resealing of membranes, "amniopatch" for spontaneous vs. iatrogenic preterm premature rupture of the membranes (sPPROM and iPPROM).

Methods: We performed a systematic review of literature involving an electronic search of the following databases: Ovid MEDLINE(R) and Epub Ahead of Print, In-Process and Other Non-Indexed Citations, Ovid MEDLINE(R) Daily, Ovid EMBASE, Ovid Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Scopus.

The Rist radial access system: a multicenter study of 152 patients.

Background: Transradial access (TRA) for neurointervention is becoming increasingly popular as experience with the technique grows. Despite reasonable efficacy using femoral catheters off-label, conversion to femoral access occurs in approximately 8.6-10.

Impact of Choosing Wisely Recommendations on Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Postoperative Radiation Rates in Women Over Age 70 Years with Hormone-Positive Breast Cancer.

Background: In 2016, the Society of Surgical Oncology released a Choosing Wisely guideline recommending sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) omission in females ≥70 years of age with early-stage, hormone-positive, clinically node-negative invasive breast cancer. This study investigated the impact of this guideline on SLNB and radiotherapy rates, in addition to assessing temporal trends of nodal biopsy and factors associated with recurrence.

Methods: The study involved a retrospective review of women who met the guideline criteria and underwent partial mastectomy at a single institution between 2009 and 2018.

Treatment of Pyogenic Flexor Tenosynovitis in the Emergency Department Setting With WALANT Technique.

Background: The standard of care for treatment of pyogenic flexor tenosynovitis (PFT) involves antibiotic therapy and prompt irrigation of the flexor tendon sheath, traditionally performed in the operating room. With the acceptance of wide-awake local anesthesia no tourniquet (WALANT) hand surgery and its potential ability to minimize time to flexor tendon sheath irrigation, we sought to determine whether closed irrigation of the flexor tendon sheath could be safely and effectively performed in the emergency department setting with WALANT technique.

Methods: A retrospective review was conducted of the senior author's hand surgery consultations over a 12-month period.

Rib Fracture Mortality: Are There Clues in the Core?

Background: Sarcopenia is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in the trauma patient. The primary objective of this study was to determine the relationship of psoas cross sectional area with hospital mortality in patients with rib fractures over the age of 55 years.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 1223 patients presenting to a Level 1 Trauma Center between 1/1/2002 and 1/31/2019.

Evaluation of a modified and abbreviated scale for assessing chronic illness care for medication therapy management practice.

Background: The central goals of MTM align with those of the Chronic Care Model (CCM). However, reliable and valid assessments are needed to estimate the extent to which components of MTM care delivery are consistent with the CCM. The Assessment of Chronic Illness Care (ACIC) is a 34-item scale for administration in primary care offices to estimate the extent to which chronic care delivery aligns with the six elements of the CCM.

Acute Pancreatitis in a Previously Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficient Cystic Fibrosis Patient Who Had Improved Pancreatic Function After Being Treated With Lumacaftor/Ivacaftor.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a common complication of cystic fibrosis (CF). While previously considered to be irreversible, recent reported cases document improved pancreatic function in CF patients with mild mutations after ivacaftor treatment alone. We report a 12-year-old female with homozygous F508del CF and EPI who developed acute pancreatitis after 3 years on lumacaftor/ivacaftor and subsequently had improved pancreatic function.

A Galvanizing Solution: Colonoscopy Bowel Preparation as a Trigger for Supraventricular Tachycardia.

Background: Polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based solutions are among the most commonly used bowel preparation regimens for colonoscopy. Although these solutions are well tolerated, rare adverse cardiac events have been reported.

Objectives: We sought to identify the characteristics that may predispose patients to develop supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) after ingestion of GoLYTELY (PEG 3350 and electrolytes oral solution) in anticipation for their colonoscopy.

Fluoroscopic placement of nasojejunal feeding tubes in COVID-19 patients in the prone position.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has caused an increase in patients requiring enteral feeding access while undergoing proning for severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We investigated the safety and feasibility of fluoroscopy-guided nasojejunal (NJ) feeding tube placement in the prone position.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of all patients who underwent fluoroscopic placement of NJ feeding tubes at a single institution between March 2020 and December 2020.

Factors associated with high pain catastrophizing in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome.

The purpose of this study was to determine if physical, mental health and patient-specific factors are associated with increased Pain Catastrophizing in patients undergoing hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS). Patients who underwent primary hip arthroscopy for FAIS were retrospectively analyzed. Patients were included if they completed a standard pre-operative questionnaire which included the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), VAS and 12-Item Short Form Survey (SF-12) Physical and Mental Composite Scores.

Point of Care Ultrasound First: An Opportunity to Improve Efficiency for Uncomplicated Pregnancy in the Emergency Department.

Research suggests emergency providers using point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) to confirm an uncomplicated intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) can decrease emergency department (ED) length of stay (LOS) compared to a radiology department ultrasound (RADUS). The objective of this study was to compare the time to diagnosis and LOS between POCUS and RADUS patients. This was a retrospective study at one urban medical center.

Fighting diagnostic confirmation bias: Cystic fibrosis, allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillus, or both?

As diagnostic algorithms for cystic fibrosis (CF) continue to evolve, education of general practitioners is essential to prevent delayed diagnosis of CF and allow prompt referral to CF centers. For patients suffering from allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), CF should be at the top of the differential diagnosis.

Myocardial Ischemia, a Rare Presentation of Meckel's Diverticulum.

Context: Meckel's diverticulum is a rare congenital anomaly of the gastrointestinal tract. It is typically asymptomatic and found incidentally in the work-up of another medical complaint. However, it has been known to cause complications in a minority of cases.