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ImportanceBlood culture (BC) use benchmarks in US hospitals have not been defined.ObjectiveTo characterize BC use in adult intensive care units (ICUs) and wards in US hospitals.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsA retrospective cross-sectional study of BC use in adult medical ICUs, medical-surgical ICUs, medical wards, and medical-surgical wards from acute care hospitals from the 4 US geographic regions was conducted. Critical access hospitals, less than 6 months of BC data, and non-US hospitals were excluded. The study included BC use data from September 1, 2019, to August 31, 2021. Data were analyzed from February 23 to July 14, 2024.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was BC use per 1000 patient-days. Adjusted means with 95% CIs were calculated using mixed-effects negative binomial regression models adjusted for unit type, hospital bed size, geographic region, seasonality, and state COVID-19 case load, with random intercepts accounting for clustering at unit and hospital levels. Secondary outcomes included blood culture positivity, single BCs, BC contamination, and minimum threshold for BC use where blood culture positivity would be optimized.ResultsA total of 362 327 blood cultures were analyzed from 27 medical ICUs, 35 medical-surgical ICUs, 121 medical wards, and 109 medical-surgical wards from 48 hospitals in 19 states and the District of Columbia. The adjusted mean BC use per 1000 patient-days was 273.1 (95% CI, 270.2-275.9) for medical ICUs, 146.0 (95% CI, 144.5-147.5) for medical-surgical ICUs, 80.3 (95% CI, 79.8-80.7) for medical wards, and 65.1 for medical-surgical wards. Blood culture use was significantly higher across all 4 unit types in hospitals with more than 500 beds compared with 500 or less beds and in the West-Midwest compared with other regions. Single blood culture and positive blood culture rates were below 10% across all 4 unit types. Of the 292 units, 97% had a mean BC contamination rate within 3% of the recommended threshold, and 51% were within 1%. The minimum BC use thresholds (ie, BC use below this number may represent undertesting) were 120 BCs per 1000 patient-days for medical ICUs, 80 BCs per 1000 patient-days for medical-surgical ICUs, and 30 BCs per 1000 patient-days for medical-surgical wards.Conclusions and RelevanceThe findings of this study suggest that blood culture positivity may help determine appropriate BC use for individual unit types.

Abstract The largest risk factor for dementia is age. Heterochronic blood exchange studies have uncovered age-related blood factors that demonstrate ‘pro-aging’ or ‘pro-youthful’ effects on the mouse brain. The clinical relevance and combined effects of these factors for humans is unclear. We examined five previously identified brain rejuvenation factors in cerebrospinal fluid of adults with autosomal dominant forms of frontotemporal dementia and sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Our frontotemporal dementia cohort included 100 observationally followed adults carrying autosomal dominant frontotemporal dementia mutations (Mage = 49.6; 50% female; 43% C9orf72, 24% GRN, 33% MAPT) and 62 non-carriers (Mage = 52.6; 45% female) with cerebrospinal fluid analysed on Somascan, and longitudinal (Mvisits = 3 years, range 1–7 years) neuropsychological and functional assessments and plasma neurofilament light chain. Our Alzheimer’s disease cohort included 35 adults with sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (Mage = 69.4; 60% female) and 56 controls (Mage = 68.8, 50% female) who completed the same cerebrospinal fluid and clinical outcome measures cross-sectionally. Levels of C-C motif chemokine ligand 11, C-C motif chemokine ligand 2, beta-2-micorglobulin, bone gamma-carboxyglutamate protein (aka Osteocalcin) and colony stimulating factor 2 in cerebrospinal fluid were linearly combined into a composite score, with higher values reflecting ‘pro-youthful’ levels. In genetic frontotemporal dementia, higher baseline cerebrospinal fluid rejuvenation proteins predicted slower decline across cognitive, functional, and neurofilament light chain trajectories; estimates were similar across genotypes. In transdiagnostic analyses, higher cerebrospinal fluid rejuvenation proteins associated with better functional, cognitive, and neurofilament light chain outcomes in adults with sporadic Alzheimer’s disease. Proteins with pre-clinical evidence for brain rejuvenation show translational clinical relevance in adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and warrant further investigation.

The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) is increasingly targeted by various noninvasive transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial current stimulation protocols in a range of neuropsychiatric and other brain disorders. The rationale for this therapeutic modulation remains elusive. A model is proposed, and up-to-date evidence is discussed, suggesting that the dlPFC is a high-level cortical centre where uncertainty management, movement facilitation, and cardiovascular control processes are intertwined and integrated to deliver optimal behavioural responses in particular environmental or emotional contexts. A summary of the state-of-the-art in the field is provided to accelerate the development of emerging neuromodulation technologies for brain stimulation and recording for patients with mood, sleep, and cognitive disorders in our ageing population.

Importance The emergency department (ED) offers an opportunity to initiate palliative care for older adults with serious, life-limiting illness. Objective To assess the effect of a multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the ED on hospital admission, subsequent health care use, and survival in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness. Design, Setting, and Participants Cluster randomized, stepped-wedge, clinical trial including patients aged 66 years or older who visited 1 of 29 EDs across the US between May 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, had 12 months of prior Medicare enrollment, and a Gagne comorbidity score greater than 6, representing a risk of short-term mortality greater than 30%. Nursing home patients were excluded. Intervention A multicomponent intervention (the Primary Palliative Care for Emergency Medicine intervention) included (1) evidence-based multidisciplinary education; (2) simulation-based workshops on serious illness communication; (3) clinical decision support; and (4) audit and feedback for ED clinical staff. Main Outcome and Measures The primary outcome was hospital admission. The secondary outcomes included subsequent health care use and survival at 6 months. Results There were 98 922 initial ED visits during the study period (median age, 77 years [IQR, 71-84 years]; 50% were female; 13% were Black and 78% were White; and the median Gagne comorbidity score was 8 [IQR, 7-10]). The rate of hospital admission was 64.4% during the preintervention period vs 61.3% during the postintervention period (absolute difference, −3.1% [95% CI, −3.7% to −2.5%]; adjusted odds ratio [OR], 1.03 [95% CI, 0.93 to 1.14]). There was no difference in the secondary outcomes before vs after the intervention. The rate of admission to an intensive care unit was 7.8% during the preintervention period vs 6.7% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 0.98 [95% CI, 0.83 to 1.15]). The rate of at least 1 revisit to the ED was 34.2% during the preintervention period vs 32.2% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.00 [95% CI, 0.91 to 1.09]). The rate of hospice use was 17.7% during the preintervention period vs 17.2% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.04 [95% CI, 0.93 to 1.16]). The rate of home health use was 42.0% during the preintervention period vs 38.1% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.10]). The rate of at least 1 hospital readmission was 41.0% during the preintervention period vs 36.6% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.01 [95% CI, 0.92 to 1.10]). The rate of death was 28.1% during the preintervention period vs 28.7% during the postintervention period (adjusted OR, 1.07 [95% CI, 0.98 to 1.18]). Conclusions and Relevance This multicomponent intervention to initiate palliative care in the ED did not have an effect on hospital admission, subsequent health care use, or short-term mortality in older adults with serious, life-limiting illness. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03424109

ABSTRACT Introduction Despite the emergence of drugs to treat irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), improving abdominal pain can still be challenging. α 2 δ ligands, such as gabapentin and pregabalin, are sometimes used off‐label to tackle this problem. However, evidence for efficacy is limited, and no large‐scale studies have been published. Aim To study the efficacy of the α 2 δ ligand PD‐217,014 in IBS. Methods This multi‐centre, double‐blind, randomised, placebo‐controlled, parallel group study randomised participants with Rome II‐defined IBS to 150 or 300 mg b.d. of PD‐217,014 or placebo b.d. for 4 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was responder, defined as having adequate relief of abdominal pain/discomfort for ≥ 50% of the active treatment period. Key secondary endpoints were change from baseline in abdominal pain, bloating, stool frequency/consistency, and global assessment of IBS symptoms. Results We randomised 330 participants [aged 19–73 years; 209 (65%) female] satisfying Rome II criteria, 322 (98%) were treated, and of whom 271 (84%) completed the study. In this study, 321 satisfied Rome IV criteria. Neither dose of PD‐217,014 improved the percentage of participants reporting adequate relief of abdominal pain/discomfort compared with placebo, either using the Rome II‐defined total cohort or Rome II and IV IBS bowel habit sub‐types. There were similar observations for secondary endpoints, and no association between abdominal pain or anxiety levels at baseline with participant improvement. PD‐217,014 was generally well tolerated. Conclusion This first large, dose‐ranging trial examining the efficacy of PD‐217,014 showed no significant efficacy in participants with IBS or bowel habit sub‐types, irrespective of their pain and anxiety levels.

Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) is a rare cutaneous soft tissue sarcoma and affects an estimated 1,500 people annually in the United States. DFSP frequently exhibits extensive local infiltration. Initial treatment is through surgical excision, and care should be taken to ensure that negative margins are achieved to minimize recurrence. Although DFSP has a reported high rate of recurrence, metastasis is more uncommon. Fibrosarcomatous DFSP is an aggressive variant with an increased risk for local recurrence and metastasis. If achieving negative margins or resection is not feasible, radiation therapy or systemic treatment are options that may be considered by a multidisciplinary team. The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) outline recommended treatment options available for DFSP.

The NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines) for Lung Cancer Screening provide criteria for selecting individuals for screening and offer recommendations for evaluating and managing lung nodules detected during initial and subsequent annual screening. These NCCN Guidelines Insights focus on recent updates to the NCCN Guidelines for Lung Cancer Screening.

Introduction/Purpose The multicenter, prospective, single‐arm, controlled, non‐randomized SCENT trial on flow diverter (FD) treatment for intracranial aneurysms (IA) was analyzed for patients’ age and IA characteristics impacting stroke and occlusion rates over 5 years. Materials and Methods Impact on major ipsilateral stroke and IA occlusion was studied by stratifying age as </= 65 years versus >65 years. Twice as many subjects treated were </= 65 years old (n=119/180). Product‐limit (Kaplan‐Meier) estimates of time to both endpoints, stratified by age group, were created. Univariate predictors of time to stroke were identified by including candidate variables in univariable proportional hazards regression models. Those variables found to be significant (p<0.10) at the univariate level were entered into a multivariable survival model to identify independent predictors. The stepwise selection produced a final reduced model with a significance level to both enter and stay set at 0.05. Results When parent artery stenosis and IA size were entered into a multiple‐stepwise survival model, only stenosis remained as an independently significant predictor of time to stroke. At 3‐year follow‐up, there were a total of 23 strokes (12.8%), with 11 (47.8%) occurring in subjects </= 65 years; there was a greater risk for seniors (HR1.96, 95% CI 0.83‐4.78, p=.122). Four patients (4/180; 2.2%) experienced aneurysm ruptured within the first week post‐treatment, with 3 being </= 65 and the fourth aged 66 years. No new strokes were reported between 3 and 5 years. Complete IA occlusion rates for seniors were 60.0% (33/55), 67.6% (25/37), and 85.7% (18/21) at 12, 36, and 60 months, respectively, as compared to 79.1% (87/110), 82.5% (66/80), and 91.8% (56/61) for younger subjects. The time to complete IA occlusion was shorter in younger patients (HR1.53, 95% CI 1.07‐2.19, p=.020). Five subjects (2.8%) underwent retreatment, 2 in 60‐year‐old patients, and one each aged 64, 70, and 75. Conclusion Stroke, early rupture risk, and aneurysm occlusion in patients treated with FD are related to age and pre‐existing parent artery stenosis, IA size, and location. With demographic shifts, future treatments need to focus on expedited and improved healing.