Incidence of Drug Use-Related Endogenous Endophthalmitis Hospitalizations in the United States, 2003 to 2016.

Importance: Complications arising from the nationwide opioid epidemic led to an increase in health care use. Few studies have investigated whether this is reflected in hospital admissions for endogenous endophthalmitis.

Objective: To report changing trends in epidemiology, risk factors, hospital course, and costs associated with drug use-related endogenous endophthalmitis hospitalizations in the United States from 2003 to 2016.

β-Amyloid Plaque Reduction in the Hippocampus After Focused Ultrasound-Induced Blood-Brain Barrier Opening in Alzheimer's Disease.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) limits therapeutic delivery in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurological disorders. Animal models have demonstrated safe BBB opening and reduction in β-amyloid plaque with focused ultrasound (FUS). We recently demonstrated the feasibility, safety, and reversibility of FUS-induced BBB opening in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in six participants with early AD.

Chronic electronic cigarette use elicits molecular changes related to pulmonary pathogenesis.

The relative safety of chronic exposure to electronic cigarette (e-cig) aerosol remains unclear in terms of lung pathogenesis. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate gene/protein biomarkers, which are associated with cigarette-induced pulmonary injury in animals chronically exposed to nicotine containing e-cig aerosol. C57BL/6 J mice were randomly assigned to three exposure groups: e-cig, tobacco cigarette smoke, and filtered air.

Strategies for increasing impact, engagement, and accessibility in HIV prevention programs: suggestions from women in urban high HIV burden counties in the Eastern United States (HPTN 064).

Background: Merely having the tools to end HIV is insufficient. Effectively ending the epidemic necessitates addressing barriers that impede engagement in biomedical and behavioral prevention and wide scale implementation and utilization of existing interventions. This qualitative study identifies suggestions for increasing access to, engagement in, and impact of HIV prevention among women living in cities in high HIV burden counties in the eastern US.

Shortened-Interval Dual-Session EDGE Reduces the Risk of LAMS Dislodgement While Facilitating Timely ERCP.

Background And Aims: EUS-directed transgastric ERCP (EDGE) is an endoscopic modality for treating pancreaticobiliary disorders after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass. EDGE consists of EUS-directed gastrogastrostomy/jejunogastrostomy creation (EUS-GG; step 1), followed by transgastric ERCP (step 2). The two steps can be performed in the same or separate endoscopic session(s).

Associations of multimorbidity and patient-reported experiences of care with conservative management among elderly patients with localized prostate cancer.

Background: Many elderly localized prostate cancer patients could benefit from conservative management (CM). This retrospective cohort study examined the associations of patient-reported access to care and multimorbidity on CM use patterns among Medicare Fee-for-Service (FFS) beneficiaries with localized prostate cancer.

Methods: We used linked Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results cancer Registry, Medicare Claims, and the Medicare Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (MCAHPS) survey files.

Retrospective Assessment of the Use of Liposomal Bupivacaine in Lumbar Fusions in Immediate Postoperative Hospital Care.

Background: Liposomal bupivacaine (LB) is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for administration into surgical sites for postsurgical analgesia.

Trends in Infantile Endogenous Endophthalmitis Hospitalizations in the United States: An Analysis from 2007 through 2014 Using the National Inpatient Sample.

Purpose: To determine the annual change in incidence of neonatal and infantile endogenous endophthalmitis in the United States between 2007 and 2014 and identify associated risk factors for development of endophthalmitis and mortality.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Participants: Neonates (<28 days; n = 1650) hospitalized for endogenous endophthalmitis between 2003 and 2014 and infants (age range, 28 days-1 year; n = 1850) hospitalized between 2007 and 2014 across United States community hospitals were analyzed.

Use of the Burden of Diabetes Mellitus Score for Cardiovascular Disease Risk Assessment.

Uncontrolled type II diabetes mellitus (DM) using single point hemoglobin A1c levels has been associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. However, methods to quantify the effect of uncontrolled DM over time have been inconsistent. To quantify hyperglycemia over time and assess its cardiovascular effects we developed and tested a DM burden score which accounts for time in years prior to DM diagnosis, diagnostic HbA1c, and aggregate HbA1c levels thereafter.

Noninvasive hippocampal blood-brain barrier opening in Alzheimer's disease with focused ultrasound.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) presents a significant challenge for treating brain disorders. The hippocampus is a key target for novel therapeutics, playing an important role in Alzheimer's disease (AD), epilepsy, and depression. Preclinical studies have shown that magnetic resonance (MR)-guided low-intensity focused ultrasound (FUS) can reversibly open the BBB and facilitate delivery of targeted brain therapeutics.

The Journey of an EGFR-Mutant Lung Adenocarcinoma through Erlotinib, Osimertinib and ABCP Immunotherapy Regimens: Sensitivity and Resistance.

Patients with epidermal growth factor receptor () mutation positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have several EGFR targeting tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) available in frontline management. However, the disease will inevitably progress over time due to acquired resistance. Longitudinal tumor profiling for genomics guided therapy is indicated upon disease progression.

Comparison of Long-term Survival of Patients With Early-Stage Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer After Surgery vs Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

Importance: Previous comparisons of surgery and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) for early-stage (ES) non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) did not account for the extent of regional lymph node examination (LNE) during surgery.

Objective: To compare long-term overall survival (OS) of patients with ES NSCLC after surgery vs SBRT when the extent of regional LNE in patients undergoing surgery is thoroughly considered.

Design, Setting, And Participants: Cohort study with survival comparisons using the multivariable Cox proportional hazards model and after propensity score matching.

Circulating extracellular vesicle content reveals DNA methyltransferase expression as a molecular method to predict septic shock.

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are mRNA-containing cell fragments shed into circulation during pathophysiological events. DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B) regulate gene expression by modifying DNA methylation and altering transcription. Sepsis is a systemic insult resulting in vascular dysfunction, which can lead to shock and death.

Role of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery in Small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Retrospective Study of the International Radiosurgery Research Foundation (IRRF).

Background: Despite a high incidence of brain metastases in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC), limited data exist on the use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS), specifically Gamma Knife™ radiosurgery (Elekta AB), for SCLC brain metastases.

Objective: To provide a detailed analysis of SCLC patients treated with SRS, focusing on local failure, distant brain failure, and overall survival (OS).

Methods: A multi-institutional retrospective review was performed on 293 patients undergoing SRS for SCLC brain metastases at 10 medical centers from 1991 to 2017.

A Comparison of Rural and Academic Training Environments for Third-Year Medical Students on a Family Medicine Rotation.

Background And Objectives: Medical students have been training in rural environments for many years. However, there is sparse research demonstrating that training in a rural environment provides an equivalent learning experience to training in an academic medical setting. This study addresses that gap by comparing student performance after training in rural or community environment versus an academic setting while completing the family medicine clerkship.

Undergraduate Nursing Students' Perception of End-of-Life Care Education Placement in the Nursing Curriculum.

Nursing students, who have been receiving the End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium (ELNEC) Core training throughout their Bachelor of Science in Nursing program, have a unique perspective of the benefits of this training. In addition, they have insight as to where an online ELNEC module series specifically for undergraduate nursing students would best be integrated within the curriculum. This study used a mixed methods strategy to evaluate students' opinions on the placement of end-of-life care education within the curriculum and their experience of having received ELNEC training previously throughout their program.

Perspectives of US women participating in a candidate PrEP study: adherence, acceptability and future use intentions.

Introduction: Limited data exist on acceptability of candidate pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) regimens among US women. We evaluated PrEP experiences, attitudes and future use intentions among sexually active women who completed the US-based HIV Prevention Trials Network 069/AIDS Clinical Trials Group 5305 study.

Methods: Women participated in the study between March 2013 and November 2015.

(Not Giving Up) The Marathon Race of MET Targeting Therapy: Are We There Yet?

Among the various aberrations, amplification and have emerged as valid predictive biomarkers for MET inhibition. Despite challenges that have limited the development of MET inhibitors, we can learn from the latest efforts in biomarker-based therapy to better identify the patients who will benefit from treatment with these agents..

Acute Vascular Ischemic Events in Patients With Central Retinal Artery Occlusion in the United States: A Nationwide Study 2003-2014.

Purpose: Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) confers a high risk of acute vascular ischemic events, including stroke and myocardial infarction (MI). Understanding the burden and risk factor profile of these ischemic events can serve as a valuable guide for ophthalmologists in the management and appropriate referral of these patients.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

HIV virologic response better with single-tablet once daily regimens compared to multiple-tablet daily regimens.

Background: Single-tablet regimens are preferred prescription choices for HIV treatment, but there are limited outcomes data comparing single-tablet regimens to multiple-tablet regimens.

Methods: We retrospectively assessed treatment-naïve patients at a single urban HIV clinic in the United States for viral load suppression at 6 and 12 months after initiating either single-tablet or multiple-tablet regimens. Multivariate regression was performed to obtain relative risks and adjust for potential confounders.

Microvascular Dysfunction Following Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube Exposure Is Mediated by Thrombospondin-1 Receptor CD47.

Pulmonary exposure to multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) disrupts peripheral microvascular function. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is highly expressed during lung injury and has been shown to alter microvascular reactivity. It is unclear exactly how TSP-1 exerts effects on vascular function, but we hypothesized that the TSP-1 receptor CD47 may mediate changes in vasodilation.

Residents' Views on Research and Quality Improvement Training Can Guide Practice-Based Research Network Collaboration.

Background And Objectives: This study was conducted by the West Virginia Practice-Based Research Network Learning Collaborative to assess research activity, confidence, and attitudes toward residency programs' research and quality improvement requirements and inform the integration of the state-wide practice-based research network (PBRN) as mentors to support practice transformation implementation initiatives across various resident training sites in West Virginia.

Methods: This pilot study assessed residents' attitudes regarding (1) research activity, (2) confidence and (3) requirements of their program in research and quality improvement training by using an anonymous survey, administered during regular residency meetings.

Results: Of the 68 residents,representing four DO and MD Family Medicine residency programs in West Virginia, 40 (58.

Durable Near-Complete Response to Anti-PD-1 Checkpoint Immunotherapy in a Refractory Malignant Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Pleura.

Solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura is a rare and usually benign primary neoplasm arising from mesenchymal cells of the submesothelial tissue. We present here the case of a patient diagnosed with CD34-positive advanced malignant solitary fibrous tumor of the pleura whose disease failed to respond to combination cytotoxic chemotherapy agents, but demonstrated a prompt near-complete response to checkpoint blockade treatment using the anti-programmed death (PD)-1 monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab, based on tumor molecular profiling revealing tumoral expression positivity for both programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) and PD-1. The patient experienced minimal adverse effects from the treatment with durable favorable response lasting up to cycle 26.