The impact of COVID-19 on presentation and diagnosis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Objective: To analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic has influenced trends in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) presentation and diagnosis-including referral patterns, stage at presentation, and time to diagnosis-over a longitudinal time course.

Setting: Multicenter tertiary care academic institution.

Methods: A retrospective review of patients with HNSCC presenting between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2020 was performed.

An Update on the Management of Esophageal Variceal Hemorrhage.

Content available: Author Audio Recording.

Transplantation of Apoptosis-Resistant Endothelial Progenitor Cells Improves Renal Function in Diabetic Kidney Disease.

Background Diabetic kidney disease is associated with glomerulosclerosis and poor renal perfusion. Increased capillary formation and improved perfusion may help to halt or reverse the injury. Transplanting apoptosis-resistant p53-silenced endothelial progenitor cells (p53sh-EPCs) may help improve vascularization and renal perfusion and could be more beneficial than another stem cell such as the mouse mesenchymal stromal cell (mMSC).

Long-Term Outcomes of Refractive Surgery Performed During the Military.

Introduction: To evaluate the long-term refractive results of laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) performed by the military in a veteran population.

Materials And Methods: Three Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital sites (Puget Sound, Buffalo, and Washington D.C.

Eleven Years of Cataract Surgery in Veterans Without Pre-existing Ocular Comorbidities.

Introduction: In 2017, over 75,000 cataract surgeries were performed within the Veterans Health Administration System (VHA). Previous reports of outcomes of cataract surgery in veterans include patients with pre-existing ocular disease, which can affect vision. To exclude the confounding factor of pre-existing ocular comorbidities, we investigated the long-term visual outcomes and complications associated with small incision cataract surgery performed on veterans without any pre-existing eye disease.

Significance of asymptomatic hyperuricemia in patients after coronary events.

The goal of the present study was to determine the prevalence of hyperuricemia in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), within three months after coronary events. Also, we aimed to determine whether the presence of hyperuricemia holds correlation with severe CAD, overall heart functioning and risk factors for CAD. The study included 505 consecutive CAD patients, 385 males and 120 females, aged 60.

Affective and Cognitive Conditions are Stronger Predictors of Success with Community Reintegration than Gait and Balance Performance in Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Introduction: Optimal community reintegration is an integral part of the clinical management of patients with mild traumatic brain injury.

Background/objective: We sought the contribution and inter-relation of such variables as balance, executive function, and affective regulation to the community reintegration of veterans with mTBI.

Methods: We examined the statistical relationship among the above variables by conducting a series of objective evaluations to assess the balance, gait, executive function, affective regulation, and scores representing the patients' issues with community reintegration.

Transforming growth factor-β in liver cancer stem cells and regeneration.

Cancer stem cells have established mechanisms that contribute to tumor heterogeneity as well as resistance to therapy. Over 40% of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) are considered to be clonal and arise from a stem-like/cancer stem cell. Moreover, HCC is the second leading cause of cancer death worldwide, and an improved understanding of cancer stem cells and targeting these in this cancer are urgently needed.

The Role of Dual Tasking in the Assessment of Gait, Cognition and Community Reintegration of Veterans with Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Background: This study focussed on the effect of dual versus single tasking on balance, gait and cognition in veterans with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). We examined the correlation between these parameters, with responses to questions on community reintegration activities.

Method: 22 male and female veterans (aged 19-65) walked along a narrow and 6.

Eccentric Exercise Program Design: A Periodization Model for Rehabilitation Applications.

The applied use of eccentric muscle actions for physical rehabilitation may utilize the framework of periodization. This approach may facilitate the safe introduction of eccentric exercise and appropriate management of the workload progression. The purpose of this data-driven Hypothesis and Theory paper is to present a periodization model for isokinetic eccentric strengthening of older adults in an outpatient rehabilitation setting.

Higher risk for incident heart failure and cardiovascular mortality among community-dwelling octogenarians without pneumococcal vaccination.

Aims: Octogenarians have the highest incidence of heart failure (HF) that is not fully explained by traditional risk factors. We explored whether lack of pneumococcal vaccination is associated with higher risk of incident HF among octogenarians.

Methods And Results: In the Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS), 5290 community-dwelling adults, ≥65 years of age, were free of baseline HF and had data on pneumococcal vaccination.

Biomechanical analysis of spasticity treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis.

Objectives: New metrics for clinical spasticity are needed to assess motor performance, since scales such as the Ashworth and Tardieu are unreliable. Here, we assessed outcomes of baclofen treatment in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) using biomechanical analysis of voluntary movements.

Methods: Patients with MS and symptomatic limb spasticity were recruited for a pre-post baclofen titration study, along with age-matched healthy controls.

Diagnostic ultrasound estimates of muscle mass and muscle quality discriminate between women with and without sarcopenia.

Introduction: Age-related changes in muscle mass and muscle tissue composition contribute to diminished strength in older adults. The objectives of this study are to examine if an assessment method using mobile diagnostic ultrasound augments well-known determinants of lean body mass (LBM) to aid sarcopenia staging, and if a sonographic measure of muscle quality is associated with muscle performance.

Methods: Twenty community-dwelling female subjects participated in the study (age = 43.

Human bone marrow mesenchymal progenitors: perspectives on an optimized in vitro manipulation.

When it comes to regenerative medicine, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered one of the most promising cell types for use in many cell therapies and bioengineering protocols. The International Society of Cellular Therapy recommended minimal criteria for defining multipotential MSC is based on adhesion and multipotency in vitro, and the presence or absence of select surface markers. Though these criteria help minimize discrepancies and allow some comparisons of data generated in different laboratories, the conditions in which cells are isolated and expanded are often not considered.

Self-reported post-exertional fatigue in Gulf War veterans: roles of autonomic testing.

To determine if objective evidence of autonomic dysfunction exists from a group of Gulf War veterans with self-reported post-exertional fatigue, we evaluated 16 Gulf War ill veterans and 12 Gulf War controls. Participants of the ill group had self- reported, unexplained chronic post-exertional fatigue and the illness symptoms had persisted for years until the current clinical study. The controls had no self-reported post-exertional fatigue either at the time of initial survey nor at the time of the current study.