Eldaly, Abdullah S.

Abstract Background Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer, with around 2.3 million cases diagnosed in 2020. One in five cancer patients develops chronic lymphedema caused by multifactorial triggers and treatment-related factors. This can lead to swelling, skin infections, and limb dysfunction, negatively affecting the patient's quality of life. This retrospective cohort study aimed to determine the associations between demographic and breast cancer characteristics and postoperative cellulitis in breast cancer survivors who underwent lymphovenous bypass surgery (LVB) at Mayo Clinic, Florida. Methods We performed a retrospective chart review. Data were collected retrospectively from 2016 to 2022. Sixty adult breast cancer survivors who underwent LVB were included in the final analysis based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were excluded if they did not meet the inclusion criteria or had incomplete follow-up data. Demographic and surgical data were extracted, including body mass index (BMI), type of anastomosis, number of anastomoses, and preoperative cellulitis status. Lymphedema measurements were performed using tape measurements. Fisher's exact test was used to determine statistically significant associations between variables and postoperative cellulitis. Results Postoperative cellulitis was more common in patients aged 60 to 69 years (43.2%), whites (75.0%), overweight or obese (90.9%), with one to four anastomoses (81.8%), and nonsmokers (79.5%). The mean International Society of Lymphology (ISL) criteria for both postoperative cellulitis and no postoperative cellulitis was 1.93. Statistically significant associations with postoperative cellulitis were found for the number of anastomoses (p = 0.021), smoking status (p = 0.049), preoperative cellulitis (p = 0.04), and the length of years with lymphedema diagnosis variable (p = 0.004). Conclusion Our results suggest that a greater number of anastomoses, smoking, preoperative cellulitis, and years with lymphedema are significantly associated with an increased risk of postoperative cellulitis. Awareness of these risk factors is crucial for monitoring and early treatment of infections following surgery.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been demonstrated to improve outcomes in congestive heart failure (HF). However, their effect in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is unknown. Research Question: Can SGLT2i improve clinical outcomes in HCM patients? Methods: Using TriNetX Global Research Network from March 2013 to February 2021, patients diagnosed with HCM (ICD-10 codes I42.1, I42.2) were identified and categorized into 2 groups: those on SGLT2i vs. those who are not. To avoid inclusion of other causes of left ventricular hypertrophy, patients with aortic stenosis or systemic hypertension were excluded. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to limit confounders. Primary outcome was all-cause mortality and secondary outcomes were HF exacerbation, all-cause hospitalization, and documented cardiovascular symptoms (chest pain, dyspnea, palpitations, or leg edema) over a 2-year follow-up period. Results: A total of 27,561 HCM patients were identified; 408 (1.5%) on SGLT2i and 27,153 (98.5%) were not. Patients on SGLT2i were older (55 ± 15 vs. 48 ± 19, p<0.01) and had more comorbidities, including a nearly 6-fold higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (44% vs. 7%, p<0.01) and congestive HF (65% vs. 10%, p<0.01). After PSM, each group consisted of 355 patients. HCM patients on SGLT2i had lower rates of all-cause mortality (OR 0.22 [95% CI: 0.12, 0.39]; p<0.01), hospitalizations (OR 0.72 [95% CI: 0.53, 0.98]; p=0.04), and cardiovascular symptoms (OR 0.71 [95% CI: 0.52, 0.97]; p=0.029) when compared to patients not on SGLT2i. There was no statistical difference in the rate of HF exacerbation (OR 0.82 [95% CI: 0.54, 1.24]; p=0.3). Conclusion: In this large dataset, SGLT2i use in a select subset of HCM patients was associated with improved survival, less hospitalizations, and fewer cardiovascular symptoms. These data support future randomized trials to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SGLT2i in more diverse HCM patient populations.

Background: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have been proven to improve clinical outcomes in heart failure (HF). However, there remains a paucity of data on the potential cardioprotective impact of SGLT2i in cancer patients receiving anthracyclines. Aim: To evaluate if SGLT2i use is associated with improved outcomes in anthracycline-treated cancer patients. Methods: Using TriNetX Global Research Network from 2013 to 2021, patients diagnosed with cancer and receiving anthracycline therapy were identified and categorized into those who were taking SGLT2i versus those who were not. A 1:1 propensity score matching was used to control for baseline characteristics between the two groups. Patients were followed for 2 years. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and secondary endpoints were new-onset HF, acute HF exacerbation, myocardial infarction, new-onset atrial fibrillation/flutter, and all-cause hospitalization. Results: A total of 82,369 anthracycline-treated cancer patients were identified. After propensity score matching application, 1,412 patients were included in our analysis (706 patients in each group). Patients on SGLT2i had lower rates of all-cause mortality (OR: 0.7 [95% CI: 0.56, 0.88]; P=0.002), acute HF exacerbation (OR: 0.64 [95% CI: 0.41-1]; P=0.048), and new-onset atrial fibrillation/flutter (OR: 0.52 [95% CI: 0.33, 0.8]; P=0.003) compared to those not on SGLT2i. The incidence of myocardial infarction, new-onset HF, and all-cause hospitalization were similar between the two groups (Figure). Conclusion: Among cancer patients receiving anthracyclines, SGLT2i were associated with lower rates of mortality, acute HF exacerbations, and new-onset atrial fibrillation/flutter and similar rates of myocardial infarction, new-onset HF, and hospitalization.

Background: Choosing either a mechanical or a bioprosthetic valve during surgical aortic valve replacement (AVR) in middle-aged patients is still controversial, especially with contemporary advancements in valve technology. Aims: To evaluate long-term survival and major morbidity in patients aged 50-70 years undergoing AVR using contemporary mechanical and bioprosthetic valves. Methods: A retrospective study was performed using the TriNetX global database to identify patients aged 50 to 70 years who had primary isolated surgical AVR from 2014 to 2020. Patients who had transcatheter AVR, concomitant, or prior cardiac surgery were excluded. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: mechanical and bioprosthetic. A 1:1 propensity-score matching was performed to control for baseline differences between the two cohorts. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and secondary endpoints were stroke, major bleeding, and reoperation over a follow-up period of 8 years. Results: A total of 1,138 propensity-matched patients were included in each group. There was no significant difference in survival, stroke, or reoperation rates between the two groups. Survival probability at the end of the follow-up period was 76.6% in the mechanical group and 80.1% in the bioprosthetic group (HR, 0.946 [95% CI, 0.702, 1.276]) (Figure 1). A total of 137(12%) vs 119 (10.4%) patients had stroke in the mechanical vs the bioprosthetic group, respectively (HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.851-1.392]). A total of 19 (1.7%) vs 17 (1.5%) patients had reoperation in the mechanical, and the bioprosthetic valve group, respectively (HR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.526, 1.951]). There were higher major bleeding events in the mechanical group, 266 (23.4%) vs 163 (14.3%) in the bioprosthetic group, (HR, 1.64 [95% CI, 1.353, 1.999]). Conclusion: Contemporary bioprosthetic valves could be a reasonable option for AVR in patients aged 50 to 70 years with less major bleeding risk and similar survival, stroke, and reoperation rates.

Background: Guidelines are still unclear regarding whether mechanical or bioprosthetic valves should be selected for mitral valve replacement (MVR) in patients aged 50-70 years. Aims: To assess long-term outcomes in patients aged 50-70 years undergoing MVR using contemporary mechanical and bioprosthetic valves. Methods: We performed a retrospective study using the TriNetX global database to identify patients aged 50 to 70 years who had primary isolated surgical MVR from 2014 to 2020. Patients who had concomitant or prior cardiac surgeries were excluded. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: mechanical and bioprosthetic, and a 1:1 propensity-score matching to control for baseline differences between the two groups was performed. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and secondary endpoints were stroke, major bleeding, and reoperation over a follow-up period of 8 years. Results: Propensity-score matching yielded 1,130 patients in each group. There were significantly higher rates of all-cause mortality, stroke, and major bleeding events in the mechanical group compared to the bioprosthetic valve. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding reoperation (Table 1 and Figure 1). Conclusion: At an 8-year follow-up, the use of contemporary bioprosthetic valves for MVR in patients aged 50-70 years shows favorable all-cause mortality and lower rates of strokes and major bleeding with similar reoperation rates compared to mechanical valves.

Background: We sought to investigate the outcomes of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) versus warfarin in patients with atrial fibrillation and bioprosthetic mitral valve replacement (bMVR) due to rheumatic heart disease. Methods: We performed a retrospective study using the TriNetX global database to identify patients with atrial fibrillation and bMVR due to rheumatic heart disease from 2010 to 2020. Patients who had mechanical mitral or aortic valve replacement were excluded. Patients were stratified into 2 groups: DOAC group and Warfarin group. 1:1 propensity-score matching to control for baseline differences between the two groups was performed. The primary endpoint was ischemic stroke and secondary endpoints were all-cause mortality, major bleeding, myocardial infarction, and all-cause hospitalization over a mean follow-up of 3 years. Results: A total of 2,011 patients were identified and 586 were included after propensity-score matching (293 patients in each group). Patients in the DOAC group, compared to the warfarin group aged 68.9 ± 11.2 vs 68.2 ± 11 years (P=0.41) and 63.4% vs 63.8% were females (P=0.93). There was no significant difference between the two groups in ischemic stroke, all-cause mortality, major bleeding, myocardial infarction, and all-cause hospitalization. (Table 1, figure 1). Conclusion: In patients with atrial fibrillation and bMVR due to rheumatic heart disease, DOACs use was associated with similar rates of ischemic stroke, mortality, major bleeding, myocardial infarction, or hospitalization compared to warfarin.

Background: Despite numerous measures used to prevent pressure ulcers, their growing prevalence in recent years is expected to continue as the population ages. This review aims to report the outcomes of the regenerative potential of MSCs in treating pressure ulcers, assessing the effectiveness of MSCs in treating pressure ulcers. Methods: A computerized search for articles on animal models that use MSCs as primary therapy to treat pressure ulcers, published from conception to present, was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL. Our search yielded 52 articles, narrowed to 44 after excluding duplicates. Results: Out of 52 articles collected from four databases, 11 met the inclusion criteria. A total of 11 articles published between 2008 and 2020 met the inclusion criteria. Eight studies were observational descriptive papers in animal models, and three were prospective. Six studies used autologous MSCs, while five used allogenic MSCs. Three studies were conducted in humans, and the remaining eight were conducted in animals. The most common method of cell delivery was an intradermal injection in the margins of the ulcer. All studies reported positive results, including improved wound healing, reduced inflammation, and improved tissue regeneration. Conclusions: MSCs have shown promising results in treating pressure ulcers in animal and clinical trials. The combination of MSCs and scaffold materials has also been studied and found to be effective in wound healing. A standardized human wound model has been proposed further to investigate the efficacy of cell-based therapies for chronic wounds. However, more research is needed to determine the best quantity of cells to apply for pressure ulcers and to ensure the safety and efficacy of these treatments in clinical settings.

Introduction A steadily rising opioid pandemic has left the US suffering significant social, economic, and health crises. Machine learning (ML) domains have been utilized to predict prolonged postoperative opioid (PPO) use. This systematic review aims to compile all up-to-date studies addressing such algorithms’ use in clinical practice. Methods We searched PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and Web of Science using the keywords “machine learning,” “opioid,” and “prediction.” The results were limited to human studies with full-text availability in English. We included all peer-reviewed journal articles that addressed an ML model to predict PPO use by adult patients. Results Fifteen studies were included with a sample size ranging from 381 to 112898, primarily orthopedic-surgery-related. Most authors define a prolonged misuse of opioids if it extends beyond 90 days postoperatively. Input variables ranged from 9 to 23 and were primarily preoperative. Most studies developed and tested at least two algorithms and then enhanced the best-performing model for use retrospectively on electronic medical records. The best-performing models were decision-tree-based boosting algorithms in 5 studies with AUC ranging from .81 to .66 and Brier scores ranging from .073 to .13, followed second by logistic regression classifiers in 5 studies. The topmost contributing variable was preoperative opioid use, followed by depression and antidepressant use, age, and use of instrumentation. Conclusions ML algorithms have demonstrated promising potential as a decision-supportive tool in predicting prolonged opioid use in post-surgical patients. Further validation studies would allow for their confident incorporation into daily clinical practice.