Esper, Ronda

As artificial intelligence (AI) integrates within the intersecting domains of healthcare and computational biology, developing interpretable models tailored to medical contexts is met with significant challenges. Explainable AI (XAI) is vital for fostering trust and enabling effective use of AI in healthcare, particularly in image-based specialties such as pathology and radiology where adjunctive AI solutions for diagnostic image analysis are increasingly utilized. Overcoming these challenges necessitates interdisciplinary collaboration, essential for advancing XAI to enhance patient care. This commentary underscores the critical role of interdisciplinary conferences in promoting the necessary cross-disciplinary exchange for XAI innovation. A literature review was conducted to identify key challenges, best practices, and case studies related to interdisciplinary collaboration for XAI in healthcare. The distinctive contributions of specialized conferences in fostering dialogue, driving innovation, and influencing research directions were scrutinized. Best practices and recommendations for fostering collaboration, organizing conferences, and achieving targeted XAI solutions were adapted from the literature. By enabling crucial collaborative junctures that drive XAI progress, interdisciplinary conferences integrate diverse insights to produce new ideas, identify knowledge gaps, crystallize solutions, and spur long-term partnerships that generate high-impact research. Thoughtful structuring of these events, such as including sessions focused on theoretical foundations, real-world applications, and standardized evaluation, along with ample networking opportunities, is key to directing varied expertise toward overcoming core challenges. Successful collaborations depend on building mutual understanding and respect, clear communication, defined roles, and a shared commitment to the ethical development of robust, interpretable models. Specialized conferences are essential to shape the future of explainable AI and computational biology, contributing to improved patient outcomes and healthcare innovations. Recognizing the catalytic power of this collaborative model is key to accelerating the innovation and implementation of interpretable AI in medicine.

AbstractPurposeThe term “pectoralis minor syndrome” refers to this constellation of symptoms that can occur when the pectoralis minor (Pm) is shortened and contracted. Release of the tendon of the Pm from the coracoid has been reported to provide substantial clinical improvement to patients presenting with pectoralis minor syndrome. The purpose of this study was (1) to describe the technique for endoscopic release of pectoralis minor tendon at the subdeltoid space, (2) to classify the pectoralis minor syndrome according to its severity and (3) and to report the short‐term outcomes of this procedure in a consecutive series of patients diagnosed with pectoralis minor syndrome.MethodsEndoscopic release of the pectoralis minor tendon was performed in a series of 10 patients presenting with pectoralis minor syndrome. There were six females and four males with a median age at the time of surgery of 42 (range from 20 to 58) years. Four shoulders were categorized as grade I (scapular dyskinesis), and six as grade II (intermittent brachial plexopathy). Shoulders were evaluated for pain, motion, satisfaction, subjective shoulder value (SSV), quick‐DASH, ASES score, and complications. The mean follow‐up time was 19 (range, 6 to 49) months.ResultsArthroscopic release of the tendon of the Pm led to substantial resolution of pectoralis minor syndrome symptoms in all but one shoulder, which was considered a failure. Preoperatively, the median VAS for pain was 8.5 (range, 7–10) and the mean SSV was 20% (range, 10% ‐ 50%). At most recent follow‐up the mean VAS for pain was 1 (range, 0–6) and the mean SSV 80% (range, 50% ‐ 90%). Before surgery, mean ASES and quick‐DASH scores were 19.1 (range, 10–41.6) and 83.1 (range, 71 and 95.5) points respectively. At most recent follow‐up, mean ASES and quick‐DASH scores were 80.1 (range, 40–100) and 19.3 (range, 2.3–68) points respectively. No surgical complications occurred in any of the shoulder included in this study.ConclusionsEndoscopic release of the tendon of the pectoralis minor from the coracoid improves pain, function and patient reported outcomes in the majority of patients presenting with the diagnosis of isolated pectoralis minor syndrome.

Abstract Background With a reported incidence of up to 12%, periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a frequent complication of total elbow arthroplasty (TEA). Its microbiologic diagnosis is usually based on periprosthetic tissue culture (hereafter referred to as tissue culture), despite the poor sensitivity of this technique. Although implant sonication cultures have been shown to be superior to tissue cultures for hip and knee PJI diagnosis, only a single small study (including fewer than 10 infected implants) has assessed sonication of elbow arthroplasties. Methods We retrospectively analysed 116 sonicate fluid cultures from patients who underwent revision of a TEA at our Institution between 2007 and 2019, comparing results to tissue cultures. Nine elbows who had fewer than 2 tissue samples obtained during surgery were excluded. Using the IDSA guidelines to define PJI, there were 46 infected cases and 61 aseptic failures. We reviewed clinical characteristics and calculated the sensitivity and specificity of periprosthetic tissue culture compared to culture of samples obtained by implant sonication. In addition, we compared the sensitivity of tissue culture to the combination of tissue and sonicate fluid culture. Results A total of 107 elbows were included. Median ages in the aseptic failure and PJI groups were 60 and 67 years, respectively. Gender distribution was similar for both groups (PJI group 62% females; aseptic group 65% females). The most common pathogens were coagulase negative Staphylococcus species (66%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (18%). The sensitivity of tissue culture was 63% and the sensitivity of sonicate fluid culture was 76% (p=0.14). The specificity of tissue culture was 86% and the specificity of sonicate fluid culture was 100%. Sensitivity of sonicate fluid culture in combination with tissue culture was 91% (p=0.045). Table. Comparison of tests for microbiologic diagnosis of PJI Conclusion The combination of sonicate fluid culture and tissue culture had a greater sensitivity than tissue culture alone for microbiologic diagnosis of elbow TEA infection. Disclosures Joachin Sanchez-Sotelo, M.D, PhD, Elsevier (Other Financial or Material Support, Publishing Royalties)Exactech (Consultant)Oxford Univerity Press (Other Financial or Material Support, Publishing Royalties)Stryker (Grant/Research Support)Wright (Consultant) Robin Patel, MD, Accelerate Diagnostics (Grant/Research Support)CD Diagnostics (Grant/Research Support)Contrafect (Grant/Research Support)Curetis (Consultant)GenMark Diagnostics (Consultant)Heraeus Medical (Consultant)Hutchison Biofilm Medical Solutions (Grant/Research Support)Merck (Grant/Research Support)Next Gen Diagnostics (Consultant)PathoQuest (Consultant)Qvella (Consultant)Samsung (Other Financial or Material Support, Dr. Patel has a patent on Bordetella pertussis/parapertussis PCR issued, a patent on a device/method for sonication with royalties paid by Samsung to Mayo Clinic, and a patent on an anti-biofilm substance issued.)Selux Dx (Consultant)Shionogi (Grant/Research Support)Specific Technologies (Consultant)