Glucose-Lowering Agents Developed in the Last Two Decades and Their Perioperative Implications.

The last two decades have provided far more options f both patients and their physicians in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. While dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have been approved for nearly two decades, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT-2is) are relatively new. Of interest to perioperative physicians, these drugs present specific perioperative concerns, prompting many societies to issue guidelines.

Residual Traditional Risk in Non-Traditional Atherosclerotic Diseases.

Individuals with chronic inflammatory and immune disorders are at an increased risk of atherosclerotic events and premature cardiovascular (CV) disease. Despite extensive literature exploring the relationship between "non-traditional" atherosclerotic conditions and CV risk, many aspects remain unresolved, including the underlying mechanisms promoting the "non-traditional CV risk", the development of an innovative and comprehensive CV risk assessment tool, and recommendations for tailored interventions. This review aims to evaluate the available evidence on key "non-traditional" CV risk-enhancer conditions, with a focus on assessing and managing CV risk factors.

Tryptophan Kynurenine Pathway-Based Imaging Agents for Brain Disorders and Oncology-From Bench to Bedside.

Tryptophan (Trp)-based radiotracers have excellent potential for imaging many different types of brain pathology because of their involvement with both the serotonergic and kynurenine (KYN) pathways. However, radiotracers specific to the kynurenine metabolism pathway are limited. In addition, historically Trp-based radiopharmaceuticals were synthesized with the short-lived isotope carbon-11.

A Longer Duration of Intravenous Antibiotic Treatment for Patients with Early Periprosthetic Joint Infections Is Not Associated with a Lower Failure Rate.

Background: In recent years, many studies have demonstrated the efficacy of an early switch to oral antibiotics after surgical treatment in orthopedic-related infections. However, large analyses on periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are lacking.

Material And Methods: We conducted a retrospective observational multicenter study in patients diagnosed with an early post-operative PJI, defined as one occurring <3 months after the index arthroplasty and treated with debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR).

IL-1β in Neoplastic Disease and the Role of Its Tumor-Derived Form in the Progression and Treatment of Metastatic Prostate Cancer.

Since its discovery, IL-1β has taken center stage as a key mediator of a very broad spectrum of diseases revolving around immuno-mediated and inflammatory events. Predictably, the pleiotropic nature of this cytokine in human pathology has led to the development of targeted therapeutics with multiple treatment indications in the clinic. Following the accumulated findings of IL-1β's central modulatory role in the immune system and the implication of inflammatory pathways in cancer, the use of IL-1β antagonists was first proposed and then also pursued for oncology disorders.

Clinical outcomes of patients with unsuccessful mechanical thrombectomy versus best medical management of medium vessel occlusion stroke in the middle cerebral artery territory.

Background: Current randomized controlled trials are investigating the efficacy and safety of mechanical thrombectomy (MT) in patients with medium vessel occlusion (MeVO) stroke. Whether best medical management (MM) is more efficient than unsuccessful vessel recanalization during MT remains unknown.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study using data from 37 academic centers across North America, Asia, and Europe between September 2017 and July 2021.

Mechanical thrombectomy in elderly stroke patients with low ASPECTS: insights from STAR.

Background: The elderly population (≥80 years) were underrepresented in recent trials of endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) for anterior circulation large vessel occlusion acute ischemic stroke (LVO-AIS) with low Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS) (≤5).

Methods: This study analyzed data from a prospectively maintained database of 37 thrombectomy centers. The primary cohort of the study comprised patients with LVO-AIS aged ≥80 who underwent EVT with ASPECTS≤5 from 2013 to 2023.

Childbearing plans' predictive value for birth outcomes: A systematic review to inform mode of delivery decisions.

Objective: Rising cesarean delivery (CD) rates significantly impact maternal health, underscoring the need for comprehensive counseling. This review examines the consistency of childbearing plans over time and their predictive value for childbirth events.

Data Sources: PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and PsycINFO databases up to October 2023.

Validation of a Single Item Measure for Financial Toxicity Screening in Patients With Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Financial toxicity (FT) has been linked to higher symptom burden and poorer clinical outcomes for patients with cancer. Despite the availability of validated tools to measure FT, a simple screen remains an unmet need. We evaluated item 12 ("My illness has been a financial hardship to my family and me") of the COmprehensive Score for Financial Toxicity (COST) measure as a single-item FT screening measure.

Co-option of mitochondrial nucleic acid-sensing pathways by HSV-1 UL12.5 for reactivation from latent infection.

Although viruses subvert innate immune pathways for their replication, there is evidence they can also co-opt antiviral responses for their benefit. The ubiquitous human pathogen, Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), encodes a protein (UL12.5) that induces the release of mitochondrial nucleic acid into the cytosol, which activates immune-sensing pathways and reduces productive replication in nonneuronal cells.

Artificial Intelligence for Optical Coherence Tomography in Glaucoma.

Purpose: The integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly deep learning (DL), with optical coherence tomography (OCT) offers significant opportunities in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma. This article explores the application of various DL models in enhancing OCT capabilities and addresses the challenges associated with their clinical implementation.

Methods: A review of articles utilizing DL models was conducted, including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), recurrent neural networks (RNNs), generative adversarial networks (GANs), autoencoders, and large language models (LLMs).

Alcohol-induced liver injury is mediated via α4-containing nicotinic acetylcholine receptors expressed in hepatocytes.

Background: Our previous study demonstrated that alcohol induced the expression of the α4 subunit of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the livers of wild type mice (WT), and that whole-body α4 nAChR knockout mice (α4KO) showed protection against alcohol-induced steatosis, inflammation, and injury. Based on these findings, we hypothesized that hepatocyte-specific α4 nAChRs may directly contribute to the detrimental effects of alcohol on the liver.

Methods: Hepatocyte-specific α4 knockout mice (α4HepKO) were generated, and the absence of α4 nAChR was confirmed through PCR of genomic DNA.

Evaluating Large Language Models for Automated CPT Code Prediction in Endovascular Neurosurgery.

Large language models (LLMs) have been utilized to automate tasks like writing discharge summaries and operative reports in neurosurgery. The present study evaluates their ability to identify current procedural terminology (CPT) codes from operative reports. Three LLMs (ChatGPT 4.

ATM Expression and Activation in Ataxia Telangiectasia Patients with and without Class Switch Recombination Defects.

Background: Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM) kinase plays a critical role in DNA double-strand break (DSB) repair. Ataxia telangiectasia (A-T) patients exhibit abnormalities in immunoglobulin isotype expression and class switch recombination (CSR). This study investigates the role of residual ATM kinase expression and activity in the severity of A-T disease.

The efficiency of venturi versus peristaltic based phacoemulsification in femtosecond laser cataract surgery: Venturi vs peristaltic based phacoemulsification for cataract.

Purpose: To compare the efficiency of peristaltic vs venturi vacuum platforms when applied to the femtosecond treated cataract.

Setting: Outpatient Eye Center, Mercy Health System, Springfield, MO, USA.

Design: This is a prospective randomized controlled trial of 111 patients with moderate nuclear sclerosis scheduled for bilateral routine laser cataract surgery (clinicaltrials.

Streamlining the Journey of Research Into Clinical Practice: Making Your Patients and Practice Flourish Evaluation and Treatment of Pyogenic Spondylodiscitis of the Spine: AO Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma and Infection.

Study Design: Literature Review with clinical recommendations.

Objective: To highlight impactful studies on pyogenic spondylodiscitis (PS), identified by the AO Spine Knowledge Forum Trauma and Infection, with recommendations for their integration into clinical practice.

Methods: Five influential studies on PS that have the potential to shape current practice in spinal infections were selected and reviewed.

A case report of long-latency evoked diaphragm potentials after exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia in post-West Nile virus meningoencephalitis.

We present a case report of a 42-year-old female with post-West Nile virus meningoencephalitis who exhibited unique, long-latency diaphragm potentials evoked by transcranial and cervical magnetic stimulation after exposure to acute intermittent hypoxia (AIH). The subject was recruited for a study investigating AIH effects on respiratory motor function in healthy individuals. She had contracted West Nile virus infection 5 years before assessment that resulted in hospitalization and persistent allodynia but was not reported to the research team.

Safety and Effectiveness of Microwave Ablation of Liver Tumors. Initial Real-World Results from the Multinational NOLA Registry.

Purpose: To investigate the safety and effectiveness of microwave ablation (MWA) for treating liver tumors using real-world data from a multicenter registry (NOLA: NEUWAVE Observational Liver Ablation).

Materials And Methods: NOLA is approved to enroll up to 1,500 adults treated with MWA and follow them for five years. Initial data for 615 patients treated across 24 tertiary healthcare centers in the United States (14), Europe (8), and Asia (2), from January 2020 to October 2022, are summarized herein.

Comparing Midline and Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters-A Randomized Feasibility Trial.

Objectives: The most effective use of midline catheters in children is not understood. We aimed to (1) test the feasibility of a trial comparing peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) to midline catheters in hospitalized children in need of durable vascular access and (2) collect preliminary effectiveness data of the 2 devices.

Methods: Our study combined a single site, randomized controlled feasibility trial (RCT, primary study) and a prospective observational study (alternative study) comparing PICCs to midline catheters.

The impact of ACOG's 39-week rule on fetal death rates in the United States: A systematic review.

Objective: The "39-week rule," implemented in August 2009, strongly discouraged early term deliveries before 39 weeks without accepted ACOG delivery indications. In this study, we evaluated fetal death rates before and after the 39-week rule in the United States (US) by review of published series.

Study Design: Systematic literature searches were performed in PubMed, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Web of Science, and Scopus databases (January 2009-June 2023).

Conceptualizing self-reported adverse childhood experiences: From epidemiologic exposure to psychometric latent variable.

In this paper, we apply a measurement science perspective to explore both the epidemiologic and psychometric frameworks for the conceptualization, operationalization and assessment of self-reported adverse childhood experiences (srACEs). The epidemiologic paradigm suggests that srACEs are 'exposures', while the psychometric paradigm views responses on srACEs instrumentation as 'indicators'. It is the central premise of this paper that srACEs cannot be both exposures and indicators of scales.

Comparative outcomes of endovascular vs. surgical treatment in craniocervical junction dural arteriovenous fistulas: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Craniocervical junction dural arteriovenous fistulas (CCJ-DAVFs) are rare and complex vascular malformations that are challenging to diagnose and treat. This study aims to compare surgical and endovascular treatments for CCJ-DAVFs through a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines.