Citations

Abstract Aims In aortic stenosis (AS), estimation of left ventricular (LV) contractility is difficult as most markers of systolic LV function are load-dependent. The ratio of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) to end-systolic wall stress (ESWS), has been widely accepted as a marker of contractility. However, no studies have evaluated if this ratio is affected by loading conditions. The study describes changes in ESWS and ESWS corrected LVEF after transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Methods and results In this prospective study, 41 patients with severe AS underwent echocardiography, LV catheterisation, and computed tomography (CT) before and immediately after TAVR. ESWS was estimated from echocardiography alone (ESWSEcho), combining CT LV dimensions and echocardiographic gradients (ESWSCT + echo) and combining CT LV dimensions and invasively measured LV end-systolic pressure (ESWSCT + Invasive). ESWSecho, ESWSCT + echo and ESWSCT + Invasive all decreased significantly after TAVR (89 ± 48 vs. 57 ± 37 Kdynes/cm2, P < 0.01; 69 ± 8 vs. 51 ± 8 Kdynes/cm2, P < 0.01, and 197 ± 69 vs. 137 ± 48 Kpa/cm2, P < 0.01, respectively). We observed weak to moderate associations between the methods. After TAVR, LVEF corrected to ESWSecho, ESWSCT + echo and ESWSCT + Invasive increased (0.93 ± 0.07 vs. 1.91 ± 2.1, P = 0.013; 0.36 ± 0.19 vs. 0.58 ± 0.33, P < 0.01, and 0.3 ± 0.02 vs. 2.5 ± 1.5, P < 0.01, respectively). Conclusion ESWSecho, ESWSCT + echo and ESWSCT + Invasive decreased significantly after TAVR suggesting they reflect afterload, but independent of method, ESWS corrected LVEF increased slightly post-TAVR, indicating load dependency.

Abstract Abdominally based free flaps are commonly utilized in the context of breast reconstruction. Historically, postoperative care of these patients involved liberal amounts of intravenous fluid administration; however, overadministration of fluids puts patients at risk of developing flap edema via fluid shifts, electrolyte imbalances, wound dehiscence, and other sequelae. The purpose of this study is to assess fluid administration trends in this cohort at the authors' institution and assess its impact on patient outcomes. A retrospective review was performed on patients who underwent free-flap breast reconstruction. Patient demographics and hospitalization data were collected, and type of abdominal flap and reconstruction timing was noted. Perioperative fluid administration volumes were tracked, and primary outcomes included complication rate and type (e.g., acute blood loss anemia [ABLA], partial/total flap loss, etc.). Multivariable logistic regression was performed to assess the impact of fluid volume on patient outcomes. A total of 115 patients (mean age of 51.3 ± 10.5 years) underwent 188 abdominally based free flaps. Deep inferior epigastric artery perforator flaps were performed most often (n = 91), followed by muscle-sparing transverse rectus abdominis flaps (n = 88). Multivariable logistic regression demonstrated that high perioperative fluid administration (≥9,000 mL) was associated with increased odds of medical complications (odds ratio [OR] = 21.7; confidence interval [CI]: 5.54–84.5; p < 0.001). Patients with high fluid administration volumes experienced an increased (but nonstatistically significant) flap complication rate (OR = 2.96; CI: 0.89–9.88; p = 0.08) and developed ABLA at a higher rate (OR = 15.86; CI: 5.30–46.4; p < 0.001). High-volume resuscitation (≥9,000 mL) was associated with increased odds of ABLA as well as a greater likelihood of medical and flap complications in patients undergoing abdominally based free flaps for breast reconstruction. These data should be used to guide the development of protocols within institutions, which perform free flaps for breast reconstruction.

Abstract Background Burnout is a work‐related syndrome characterized by increased levels of emotional exhaustion (EE) and depersonalization (DP) along with decreased levels of personal achievement. In the healthcare setting, higher burnout levels have been associated with negative impacts on personnel, an increased risk of errors, and a decrease in the quality of delivered care. Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the prevalence of burnout among medical physicists working in the United States. Additionally, the impact of personal and organizational features on burnout risk was examined. Methods The anonymous survey was distributed to 1962 full members of the American Association of Physicists in Medicine. The survey consisted of seven demographic questions, the validated Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), and an organizational assessment tool. Burnout risk was evaluated using two different scoring methods. Inferential statistics were employed to examine the relationship between burnout and personal features, such as practiced sub‐specialty, and organizational features, including the respondent's assigned facility safety score. Results A total of 337 responses were received, and 59.9% of medical physicist participants scored high on at least one burnout domain. A statistically significant association was found between the EE and DP burnout domains and personal factors, including working as a therapy medical physicist, working longer hours, and a moderate or significant impact on work‐related feelings due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. A statistically significant relationship was identified between all three burnout domains and the respondent's assigned facility safety score. Amongst therapy physicists, an inverse relationship was observed between all three burnout domains and both the teamwork and staffing constructs, as well as the open communication and punitive concerns construct. Conclusions Medical physicists in the United States are experiencing significant levels of burnout. Importantly, this study identified a link between quantitative burnout scores and facility safety, stressing the importance of addressing burnout.

BACKGROUND Treatment of tubo-ovarian high-grade serous carcinoma (HGSC) includes cytoreductive surgery, platinum-based chemotherapy, and often poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors. While homologous recombination (HR) deficiency is a well-established predictor of therapy sensitivity, over 50% of HR-proficient HGSCs also exhibit sensitivity. Currently, there are no biomarkers to identify which HR-proficient HGSCs will be sensitive to standard-of-care therapy. Replication stress may serve as a key determinant of response. METHODS We evaluated phospho–RPA2-T21 (p-RPA2) foci via immunofluorescence as a biomarker of replication stress in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded HGSC samples collected at diagnosis from patients treated with platinum chemotherapy (discovery cohort, n = 31; validation cohort, n = 244) or PARP inhibitors ( n = 63). Recurrent HGSCs ( n = 38) were also analyzed. p-RPA2 score was calculated using automated imaging analysis. RESULTS Samples were defined as p-RPA2-high if more than 16% of cells had ≥2 p-RPA2 foci on automated analysis. In the discovery cohort, HR-proficient, p-RPA2-high HGSCs demonstrated significantly higher rates of a chemotherapy response score of 3 to platinum chemotherapy than HR-proficient, p-RPA2-low HGSCs. In the validation cohort, patients with HR-proficient, p-RPA2-high HGSCs had significantly longer survival after platinum treatment than those with HR-proficient, p-RPA2-low HGSCs. Additionally, the p-RPA2 assay effectively predicted survival outcomes in patients treated with PARP inhibitors and in recurrent HGSC samples. CONCLUSION Our study underscores the importance of considering replication stress markers, such as p-RPA2, alongside HR status in therapeutic planning. This approach has the potential to increase the number of patients receiving effective therapy while reducing unnecessary toxicity. FUNDING The Reproductive Scientist Development Program, GOG Foundation, Pilot Translational and Clinical Studies function of the Washington University Institute of Clinical and Translational Sciences, the Foundation for Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine Dean’s Scholar Program, The Cancer Biology Pathway Training Grant (5T32CA113275-17), The Lucy, Anarcha, and Betsey (L.A.B.) Award from the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Washington University School of Medicine, and Veterans Affairs Office of Research and Development (I01BX006020).

INTRODUCTION: DeepSeek was evaluated in gastroenterology board examination performance against legacy ChatGPT offline models, which previously showed failing performance. METHODS: The performances of the DeepSeek base R1 model and search-augmented R1 model were assessed using American College of Gastroenterology self-assessments (455 questions). RESULTS: DeepSeek exceeded the passing threshold. Search-augmented DeepSeek scored 81.5% across all questions, and the R1 base model scored 77.1%. Both search-augmented and offline DeepSeek models surpassed offline ChatGPT-3 (65.1%) and ChatGPT-4 (62.4%) ( P < 0.001). DISCUSSION: DeepSeek exhibited passing performance on the gastroenterology board examination but had gaps in niche topics and image exclusion limit utility. It may supplement education if validated by specialists.

Objectives: Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common hospital-acquired infections in the United States, of which methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) accounts for 43%. Preoperative povidone-iodine nasal swab (PNS) is considered an effective and cost-saving treatment for Staphylococcus aureus decolonization. We aim to assess the impact of preoperative PNS on SSI incidence. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study utilized elective surgical cases between January 1, 2018 and May 31, 2023, at a single academic medical center. The cohort was divided into PNS and no PNS groups. The cohort was propensity-matched, and Pearson χ2/Kruskal-Wallis tests were performed to compare group differences. Multivariable logistic regression was utilized to compare events between cohorts before and after matching. An alpha of <0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 45,998 (22,999 per group) matched participants were evaluated. On multivariate regression, the non-PNS treatment group was associated with an increase in hospital overall SSI occurrence (OR: 1.48, P = 0.02) but not specifically in-hospital methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus SSI, MRSA-SSI, or any 30-day SSI (P > 0.05). Compared with PNS treatment and prophylactic antibiotics, in-hospital SSI was higher in the absence of PNS treatment (OR: 1.83, P < 0.001), antibiotic (OR: 2.63, P < 0.001), or both (OR: 2.06, P < 0.01). Compared with PNS treatment plus prophylactic antibiotic, in-hospital MRSA-SSI was only higher in the absence of antibiotic (OR: 2.92, P < 0.01) treatment. Conclusions: Preoperative treatment with PNS may reduce overall in-hospital SSI but has no independent impact on MRSA SSI.

Objective: To establish benchmark cutoffs for robotic liver resection (R-LR), encompassing both major and minor resections, and to determine the impact of patient selection on outcomes. Background: R-LR is a key advancement in minimally invasive liver surgery but lacks standardized benchmarks, especially for minor resections. While guidelines endorse R-LR, its role in optimizing outcomes remains unclear. This study establishes the first benchmarks for R-LR, enabling comparisons across surgical modalities and refining patient selection. Methods: This retrospective, multicenter study analyzed consecutive adult patients undergoing R-LR at 30 international centers (2020–2023). Benchmark centers had an annual case volume of ≥15 R-LR. Benchmark criteria included ASA ≤2, no major comorbidities, no prior liver resections, and Child-Pugh A status. Benchmark cutoffs for 14 key outcomes were set at the 50th and 75th percentiles of median values across benchmark centers. Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of textbook outcomes. Results: Eighteen high-volume centers contributed 4028 cases with 2632 (65.3%) meeting benchmark criteria. Malignancy was the indication in 29.6%, most commonly hepatocellular carcinoma followed by colorectal liver metastases. Major liver resection was performed in 42.6%. The distribution of Iwate difficulty scores was low (25.4%), intermediate (53.9%), advanced (15.9%), and expert (4.9%). Benchmark cutoffs were established for minor and major resection, and stratified by Iwate low (0-3), intermediate (4-6) and high (7-12): Open conversion (≤6.5% minor, ≤10.5% major), major complications within 90 days (≤5.2% minor, ≤16.7% major), R1 resection (≤9.2% minor, ≤6.7% major). Benchmark cases performed at low-volume centers were able to achieve outcomes within the corresponding benchmark cutoffs. In fact, patient selection reflected by the proportion of benchmark patients, rather than case volume, was associated with textbook outcomes. Conclusions: This study defines R-LR benchmarks, emphasizing patient selection over center volume for optimal outcomes. Benchmark cutoffs guide training and support the expansion of R-LR.