Citations

ABSTRACT Introduction/Aims The clinical significance of stereotyped post‐F‐wave discharges remains uncertain. We aimed to characterize F‐wave‐induced repetitive discharges (FIRDs) and their associated clinical and electrodiagnostic findings. Methods We searched the Mayo Clinic electrodiagnostic database (January 1997–December 2025) using “F‐wave” and “repetitive discharges” and reviewed retrieved waveforms. FIRDs were defined by repetitive discharges following F‐wave activation, reproducible morphology within a train, and regular or semiregular firing. Results The study included 20 patients with FIRDs (median age 61 years, range 21–83 years; 10 male). Routine motor conduction attributes were normal in 90% of patients and F‐wave latencies were normal in all. FIRDs consisted of brief, reproducible discharges with a regular or semi‐regular firing pattern, individual durations of 2–10 ms, firing frequencies of 100–500 Hz, and amplitudes of 120–1000 μV. Neurogenic abnormalities on needle electromyography were seen in the distribution of the FIRD nerve in 65%. FIRDs were transient in a subset of patients who had repeat studies (5/5). Clinical and electrophysiological diagnoses included peripheral neuropathy (30%), radiculopathy (25%), polio (5%), brachial plexopathy (5%), and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (5%). Six patients (30%) had no clinical or electrophysiological evidence of a neuromuscular disorder. Discussion FIRDs represent an uncommon electrophysiological phenomenon seen in both chronic neurogenic disorders and patients without neurologic disease. Recognition may aid waveform interpretation, but their presence alone does not establish a specific neuromuscular diagnosis.

PURPOSE Patients with breast cancer requiring postmastectomy radiation therapy (PMRT) often desire breast reconstruction. Reconstructions can be adversely affected by PMRT, and fear of reconstruction complications has discouraged adoption of short-course radiation therapy used after lumpectomy. To fill the evidence gap, we conducted a noninferiority trial of hypofractionated versus conventional PMRT in patients undergoing breast reconstruction. The primary outcome was reconstruction complication rate, a composite of wound healing, readmission, capsular contracture, unplanned reoperation, and reconstruction failure. METHODS Women with unilateral invasive breast cancer with planned immediate or delayed reconstruction and PMRT were randomly assigned (1:1) to 50 Gy (25 fractions/5 weeks) or 42.56 Gy (16 fractions/3 weeks). This study was designed with a noninferiority margin of 10%, assuming a 2-year reconstruction complication rate of 25% with conventional PMRT. Randomization was stratified by immediate versus delayed and autologous versus implant-only reconstruction. RESULTS Between 2018 and 2021, 898 patients enrolled with a median follow-up of 3.9 years; 825 patients were evaluable for the primary end point. The 24-month reconstruction complication rates were 12.3% (52/422) with hypofractionated PMRT and 10.2% (41/403) with conventional PMRT, corresponding to an estimated difference of -2.1% (95% CI, -6.5 to 2.2). The complication rate was higher (regardless of arm) with implant-only versus autologous reconstruction (odds ratio = 1.65). There was no statistically significant difference in 36-month locoregional recurrence rates: 1.5% (95% CI, 0.7 to 3.2) with hypofractionated and 2.2% (95% CI, 1.1 to 4.3) with conventional PMRT. Acute and late toxicity rates were not statistically different. CONCLUSION A 16-fraction course of hypofractionated PMRT is safe and noninferior to conventional PMRT in women undergoing breast reconstruction after mastectomy.

ABSTRACT Background Prior studies in the pre‐MRI era suggest that patients with NCCN Intermediate and High Risk Grade Group 1 prostate cancer (GG1 PCa) on biopsy have increased risk for adverse oncologic outcomes. However, prostate MRI has altered patient selection for biopsy and improved prostate sampling. Herein, we examined factors associated with adverse pathologic features (APF) at radical prostatectomy (RP) and biochemical recurrence (BCR) among patients with GG1 in the MRI era. Methods A prospectively maintained institutional prostate cancer registry identified patients with GG1 PCa on biopsy who underwent RP from 2000 to 2023, stratified by MRI use. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox regression identified factors associated with APF at RP (GG3‐5, ≥ pT3a, or pN1) and BCR free survival (two consecutive PSA ≥ 0.2 ng/mL), respectively. Results Among patients without MRI ( n = 6732), NCCN risk group was associated with APF, BCR, and distant metastasis. Among 302 patients with GG1 and pre‐operative MRI, NCCN risk group was associated with neither APF nor BCR. Age (OR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.14, p = 0.01), PIRADS ( p = 0.01), and % core positivity (OR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00–1.03, p = 0.04) were associated with APF. Age (HR 1.07, 95% CI 1.01–1.13, p = 0.03), APF (HR 4.36, 95% CI 2.14–8.86, p < 0.001), and positive margins (HR 4.88, 95% CI 2.39–9.98, p < 0.001) were associated with BCR. Conclusions Prior to prostate MRI, NCCN risk groups offered meaningful prognostication among patients with GG1 PCa. However, the utility of NCCN risk groups for GG1 in the MRI era appears limited. Contemporary risk stratification for GG1 should focus on biopsy and MRI characteristics rather than NCCN criteria.

Traditional home-call managing after-hours pager communications remains a common component of hematology-oncology fellowship and modern practice. Little is known about these patient-related interactions and implications. This project aimed to characterize after-hours pager volumes and evaluate perceived impacts on care, physician wellbeing, and trainee education. We performed a mixed-methods study at a tertiary academic center, analyzing after-hours pager activity from 2020-2024 across Hematology Consult (HCP), Hematology Outpatient (HOP), and Medical Oncology (MOP) pagers. A survey of hematology-oncology fellows evaluated perceptions and attitudes toward the home-call experience using free-text responses and a 5-point Likert scale. After-hours pager burden was substantial and sustained. The MOP received &gt;3,000 pages annually, with medians of 5-6 per weekday and 15-15.5 per weekend day. The HOP volume nearly doubled over the study period (960 to 1,721 annually) with median pager volumes of 1-3 per weekday and 2-7 per weekend day. The HCP volume ranged from 594-768 pages annually. Survey response rate was 58% (19/33). Only 16% of fellows endorsed educational value from patient calls on MOP or HOP, and ≤5% agreed that call tasks required physician-level expertise. Respondents reported that the pager resulted in fatigue, anxiety, and social disruptions. Free text responses revealed themes of low educational value, high non-urgent call volume, and system inefficiencies. Contemporary home-call had substantial pager burdens with limited actionability, adverse effects on wellbeing, and low educational value. Systems engineering, including triage processes and augmented patient education, could help optimize patient care, physician wellbeing, and trainee education.

Purpose To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with increased posterior tibial slope (PTS ≥12°) undergoing primary anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) with concomitant lateral extra‐articular tenodesis (LET) and to determine whether the addition of LET mitigates the elevated risk of graft failure associated with increased tibial slope. Methods This single‐center retrospective cohort study included patients ≥16 years who underwent primary ACLR with LET between 2013 and 2022 with a minimum 2‐year follow‐up. Patients were stratified by PTS ≥12° versus <12° and required preoperative lateral radiographs for slope measurement and high‐risk features (pivot shift ≥2, Beighton ≥4, or return to pivoting sports). Outcomes included graft failure, residual pivot shift, complications, and patient‐reported outcomes (International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm). Achievement of minimal clinically important difference was assessed. Multivariable logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards analysis were performed to identify independent predictors of graft failure. Results A total of 289 patients (mean follow‐up, 38 months) were included: 45 with PTS ≥12° (13.0° ± 1.2°) and 244 with PTS <12° (8.1° ± 1.5°). Graft failure occurred in 24% versus 18%, respectively ( P = .411). On multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis, no independent predictor of graft failure was identified, including PTS (hazard ratio, 1.07 per degree; 95% confidence interval, 0.95‐1.19; P = .260). Complications and contralateral anterior cruciate ligament injury rates were similar between groups. On sex‐disaggregated analysis, similar patterns were observed in both male and female cohorts, with no significant between‐group differences in graft failure, retear, or complication rates by tibial slope. Patient‐reported outcomes were comparable at all time points. At final follow‐up, minimal clinically important difference achievement for International Knee Documentation Committee and Lysholm was 98% and 100%, respectively, with no between‐group differences. Conclusions In high‐risk patients with a PTS of ≥12°, primary ACLR with LET led to similar clinical results as patients with a PTS of 12 or less. A PTS of ≥12° may be considered an indication for the addition of an LET during primary ACLR. Level of Evidence Level III, retrospective comparative case series.

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether systemic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) influences recurrence outcomes in postmenopausal patients with idiopathic subglottic stenosis (iSGS). Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Tertiary academic medical center. Methods Postmenopausal women (≥50 years) with iSGS who underwent laser‐wedge excision between 2002 and 2024 were included. Patients were categorized by systemic HRT exposure (oral estrogen, progesterone, combined estrogen‐progesterone, or transdermal estrogen) at or before their first surgery. Overdispersion was assessed for all Poisson models; given significant overdispersion, negative binomial regression with a log‐offset for follow‐up time was used as the primary model. Surgery‐free intervals were analyzed using linear mixed models, and time to first recurrence using Cox regression. Models were adjusted for age, body mass index (BMI), parity, oophorectomy, follow‐up length, surgery type, and serial intralesional steroid injections (SILSI) use. Results Among 125 patients, 96 had never used HRT (Never HRT) and 29 used HRT, including 19 actively using HRT at presentation (Current HRT), 5 past users, and 5 subsequent users. The HRT versus Never‐HRT recurrence rate comparison was not significant (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.48‐1.37, P = .422). However, Current HRT use was associated with a 53% lower adjusted recurrence rate versus Never‐HRT use (adjusted IRR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.25, 0.89, P = .0203). Surgery‐free intervals and time to first recurrence trended longer in Current HRT users but were not statistically significant. Conclusion Current HRT use at presentation was associated with significantly fewer recurrences in postmenopausal iSGS patients. These findings may inform individualized, shared decision‐making regarding HRT use in this population. Level of Evidence 3.

BACKGROUND: Hemorrhoids are common and relief anchors on symptom improvement. Despite several available treatment options, the optimal patient-reported outcome measure for contemporary clinical trials is not established. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to systematically assess patient-reported outcome measures that measure hemorrhoid symptom severity and/or health-related quality of life. DATA SOURCES: A systematic review was performed using PubMed and Embase (1980-2025). STUDY SELECTION: Prospective development/validation studies evaluating patient-reported outcome measures relevant to hemorrhoidal disease. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Patient-reported outcome measures were evaluated on key measurement properties of reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness according to COSMIN v2.0 criteria. RESULTS: Of the 1,266 total studies reviewed, nine patient-reported outcome measures were identified: seven measure symptom severity and six measure health-related quality-of-life. Three demonstrated reliability, internal consistency, construct validity, and responsiveness. The Patient Reported Outcome Measure-Haemorrhoidal Impact And Satisfaction Score comprehensively measures symptom severity, health-related quality-of-life, and treatment satisfaction. The Hemorrhoidal Disease Symptom Score classifies patients with high or low symptom load, and when used in combination with Short Health Scale-Hemorrhoidal Disease, also measures impact on health-related quality of life. LIMITATIONS: Preference toward specific measures may differ between clinical trials and clinical practice. CONCLUSIONS: We identify two viable patient-reported outcome measures for use in future clinical trials that evaluate hemorrhoid interventions.

ABSTRACT Background Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) is an autoimmune cholangiopathy with polygenic architecture and unknown aetiology. Evidence links Neanderthal‐derived genetic variants to autoimmune conditions; however, their contribution to PBC susceptibility remains unexplored. Objective We investigate whether archaic alleles influence PBC risk. Design Genotype data from four PBC cohorts were analysed: CANUK (4615 cases, 9233 controls), OLD IT (444 cases, 901 controls), NEW IT (255 cases, 579 controls) and MAYO (891 cases, 621 controls). Association testing with 235 592 Neanderthal Informative Markers (NIMs) was performed, adjusting for population stratification. Heritability was estimated using RHE‐mc and temporal haplotype dynamics were assessed using ancient DNA data from Europe and Asia. Results A Neanderthal‐derived variant in TNPO3 (rs12531711), previously reported by Cordell et al. showed strong association in CANUK ( p = 2.04 × 10 −26 ) and replicated across all validation cohorts. This variant functions as an eQTL, upregulating IRF5 and downregulating TNPO3 in blood. It is rare in African populations but common both in Europeans and Asians. Temporal analysis of the haplotype carrying rs12531711 revealed frequency increased substantially during the Bronze Age (5000–3000 BP), rising from 2.0% to 7.7% in Europe and 3.4% to 17.4% in Asia, before stabilizing. Despite this strong single‐variant association, the heritability explained by NIMs was not significantly different from that of non‐NIM variants. Conclusion A Neanderthal‐derived variant contributes to PBC risk and its frequency increased in the Bronze Age, possibly due to pathogen‐driven selection. Archaic introgression overall has limited influence on PBC heritability. Functional studies are needed to elucidate the role of rs12531711.

Abstract Objective Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of pain and disability worldwide. Recent studies demonstrate a vertebrogenic model involving the basivertebral nerve (BVN) as a cause of chronic LBP. Vertebral endplates are highly innervated by the BVN, and literature shows type 1 and 2 Modic changes at vertebral endplates are a source of vertebrogenic low back pain (VBP). As a result, intraosseous radiofrequency ablation of the BVN is a minimally invasive outpatient procedure used to treat VBP. We conducted a retrospective review of 1,145 patients that have undergone BVN ablation to assess for safety and complication management. Methods Chart reviews were conducted to obtain demographic and pre-procedural information regarding patient gender, age at the time of BVN ablation, duration of LBP, and BMI. Post-procedure information derived from chart notes included vertebral levels ablated and post-BVN ablation complications, which were categorized as increased LBP &gt; 7 days, increased radicular pain &gt; 7 days, lower extremity weakness, infection, vertebral compression fracture, superficial bleeding, spinal or epidural hematoma, serious neurological injury, visit to the ER, and deep vein thrombosis/clot. Results 1,145 patient charts were reviewed showing an overall complication rate of 3.2% (37 complications). Increased radicular pain was the most common complication at 2.2% (25 complications) and resolved completely in all but one patient. The overall complication rate fell to 1.1% (13 complications) when the 24 cases of transient radicular pain were not counted as adverse events. Conclusions In this multicenter retrospective review, the overall rate of complications related to BVN ablation was low (3.2%). The most common complication was temporary radicular pain that resolved with conservative care. These findings suggest that BVN ablation is a safe treatment for VBP in real-world clinical settings.