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BACKGROUND: Packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusions in patients undergoing surgery for cancer are given to treat anemia or acute hemorrhage. Evidence indicates that pRBC transfusions are associated with poor perioperative and oncological outcomes. The ARCA-1 (Perioperative Care in the Cancer Patient-1) study was designed to test the association between perioperative pRBC transfusions and postoperative morbidity and mortality in patients undergoing cancer surgery. The primary hypothesis of our study was that perioperative pRBC transfusions have a negative impact on postoperative morbidity and 1-year mortality. METHODS: ARCA-1 was an international multicenter prospective observational cohort study. Participating centers enrolled a minimum of 30 consecutive adult patients with cancer who underwent surgery with curative intent. The primary end point was all-cause mortality 1 year after major cancer surgery. Secondary end points were rates of perioperative blood product use, 1-year cancer-specific mortality, overall survival, and 30-day morbidity and mortality. We performed a propensity score matching analysis to adjust for selection bias. A multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to estimate the effects of significant covariates on 1-year mortality, cancer-related mortality, and overall survival. RESULTS: A total of 1079 patients were included in the study. The rate of perioperative pRBC transfusions was 21.1%. Preoperative comorbidities, including anemia, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of III to IV, a history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), myocardial infarction, stroke, need for dialysis, history of blood transfusions, and metastatic disease were statistically significantly more frequent in transfused patients compared to nontransfused patients. The 1-year mortality rate was higher in transfused patients before (19.7% vs 6.5%; P < .0001) and after (17.4% vs 13.2%; P = .29) propensity score matching. 1-year mortality was 1.97 times higher in transfused than in no-transfused patients (odd ratio [OR], 1.97; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.13–3.41). The odds of 1-year cancer mortality for patients who had perioperative pRBCs was 1.82 times higher (OR, 1.82; 95% CI, 0.97–3.43) compared to those who did not receive perioperative pRBC transfusion. The effect of perioperative pRBC transfusion on overall survival was also significant (hazard ratio [HR], 1.85; 95% CI, 1.15–2.99). Transfused patients also had a higher rate of 30-day postoperative mortality before (3.5% vs 0.7%; P = .0009) and after propensity score matching (4.2% vs 1.8%; P = .34). CONCLUSIONS: This international, multicenter observational study showed that perioperative pRBC transfusion was associated with an increased mortality risk.

AbstractBackground and AimsPhysical activity (PA) is associated with higher gait speed. We aimed to examine the associations between PA and change in spatial and temporal gait measures as well as fall risk in community‐dwelling individuals free of dementia.MethodsLongitudinal study among 4173 individuals aged ≥50 years (mean age 71 years; 2078 males; median follow‐up 4 years) enrolled in the Mayo Clinic Study of Aging. Self‐reported late‐life PA was used to calculate overall PA and moderate‐vigorous PA (MVPA) scores. Gait was assessed using GAITRite® and Zeno™ systems. Incident falls information was based on diagnostic codes retrieved from medical records. We ran linear mixed effects models to examine associations between z‐scored PA variables and longitudinal gait parameters, adjusted for age, sex, education, body mass index (BMI), medical comorbidities, and including interactions between PA and time since baseline. In secondary analyses, we calculated Cox Proportional hazard models with age as time scale predicting incident falls by PA, adjusting for sex, education, BMI, medical comorbidities, and falls history.ResultsAt baseline, higher PA was associated with higher velocity (overall PA: estimate 2.9935; MVPA: 2.2961; p < 0.001), higher cadence (overall PA: 1.0665; MVPA: 0.9073; p < 0.001), greater stride length (overall PA: 2.0805; MVPA: 1.4726; p < 0.001), shorter double support time (overall PA: −0.0257; MVPA: −0.0205; p < 0.001), and lower stance time variability (overall PA: −0.0204, p < 0.001; MVPA: −0.0152; p = 0.006). Overall PA was longitudinally associated with less decline in cadence, and MVPA with less increase in intraindividual stance time variability. Overall PA (Hazard ratio 0.892, 95% confidence interval 0.828–0.961, p = 0.003) and MVPA (HR 0.901; 95% CI 0.835–0.973, p = 0.008) were associated with a decreased risk of incident falls.ConclusionLate‐life PA was associated with favorable gait outcomes and decreased risk of incident falls. Thus, late‐life PA may help to maintain gait performance and decrease fall risk in old age.

Background: Revision anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction has been documented to have inferior outcomes compared with primary ACL reconstruction. The reasons why remain unknown. Purpose: To determine whether surgical factors performed at the time of revision ACL reconstruction can influence a patient’s outcome at 6-year follow-up. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: Patients who underwent revision ACL reconstruction were identified and prospectively enrolled between 2006 and 2011. Data collected included baseline patient characteristics, surgical technique and pathology, and a series of validated patient-reported outcome instruments: Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) subjective form, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), and Marx activity rating score. Patients were followed up for 6 years and asked to complete the identical set of outcome instruments. Regression analysis was used to control for baseline patient characteristics and surgical variables to assess the surgical risk factors for clinical outcomes 6 years after surgery. Results: A total of 1234 patients were enrolled (716 men, 58%; median age, 26 years), and 6-year follow-up was obtained on 79% of patients (980/1234). Using an interference screw for femoral fixation compared with a cross-pin resulted in significantly better outcomes in 6-year IKDC scores (odds ratio [OR], 2.2; 95% CI, 1.2-3.9; P = .008) and KOOS sports/recreation and quality of life subscale scores (OR range, 2.2-2.7; 95% CI, 1.2-4.8; P < .01). Use of an interference screw compared with a cross-pin resulted in a 2.6 times less likely chance of having a subsequent surgery within 6 years. Use of an interference screw for tibial fixation compared with any combination of tibial fixation techniques resulted in significantly improved scores for IKDC (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.3-2.9; P = .001); KOOS pain, activities of daily living, and sports/recreation subscales (OR range, 1.5-1.6; 95% CI, 1.0-2.4; P < .05); and WOMAC pain and activities of daily living subscales (OR range, 1.5-1.8; 95% CI, 1.0-2.7; P < .05). Use of a transtibial surgical approach compared with an anteromedial portal approach resulted in significantly improved KOOS pain and quality of life subscale scores at 6 years (OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 1.02-2.2; P≤ .04). Conclusion: There are surgical variables at the time of ACL revision that can modify clinical outcomes at 6 years. Opting for a transtibial surgical approach and choosing an interference screw for femoral and tibial fixation improved patients’ odds of having a significantly better 6-year clinical outcome in this cohort.

BACKGROUND: While clinical practice guidelines advocate for multidisciplinary heart team (MDHT) discussions in coronary revascularization, variability in implementation across health care settings remains a challenge. This variability could potentially be addressed by language learning models like ChatGPT, offering decision-making support in diverse health care environments. Our study aims to critically evaluate the concordance between recommendations made by MDHT and those generated by language learning models in coronary revascularization decision-making. METHODS: From March 2023 to July 2023, consecutive coronary angiography cases (n=86) that were referred for revascularization (either percutaneous or surgical) were analyzed using both ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4. Case presentation formats included demographics, medical background, detailed description of angiographic findings, and SYNTAX score (Synergy Between Percutaneous Coronary Intervention With Taxus and Cardiac Surgery; I and II), which were presented in 3 different formats. The recommendations of the models were compared with those of an MDHT. RESULTS: ChatGPT-4 showed high concordance with decisions made by the MDHT (accuracy 0.82, sensitivity 0.8, specificity 0.83, and kappa 0.59), while ChatGPT-3.5 (0.67, 0.27, 0.84, and 0.12, respectively) showed lower concordance. Entropy and Fleiss kappa of ChatGPT-4 were 0.09 and 0.9, respectively, indicating high reliability and repeatability. The best correlation between ChatGPT-4 and MDHT was achieved when clinical cases were presented in a detailed context. Specific subgroups of patients yielded high accuracy (>0.9) of ChatGPT-4, including those with left main disease, 3 vessel disease, and diabetic patients. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrates that advanced language learning models like ChatGPT-4 may be able to predict clinical recommendations for coronary artery disease revascularization with reasonable accuracy, especially in specific patient groups, underscoring their potential role as a supportive tool in clinical decision-making.

Purpose: The purpose was to evaluate the pathological nature of focal thyroid uptake seen in 11C-Choline PET/CT performed for prostate cancer. Material and methods: The study was IRB-approved. All 11C-Choline PET/CT exam reports for studies performed between January 01, 2018, and July 30, 2021, in male patients with prostate cancer in our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Exams with “focal thyroid uptake” on their final report were selected. Patients with surgery or ablation in the thyroid prior to the PET/CT, proven parathyroid adenomas or absent thyroid ultrasound were excluded. Repeated PET/CT exams of same patient were excluded. PET images were analyzed visually and semi-quantitatively by measuring the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of the focal thyroid uptake. Available thyroid ultrasound images, cytology and pathology reports were reviewed. Statistical analyses were performed. Results: Out of 10,047 sequential 11C-Choline PET/CT studies, 318 reports included “focal thyroid uptake.” About 128 of these studies were repeat exams and were excluded. Additional 87 patients were excluded, because the uptake was determined to be adjacent, rather than confined to the thyroid gland. Out of the remaining 103 patients, 74 patients had focal thyroid uptake and concurrent thyroid sonographic evaluation. Out of the 74 focal uptakes evaluated with ultrasound, 21 were presumed benign thyroid nodules based on the ultrasound and 53 had further evaluation with biopsy. Sixty three nodules were benign (21 presumed benign on ultrasound and 42 cytology or surgical pathology-proven), 9 nodules were malignant and 2 remained indeterminate. There was no significant difference between the SUVs of the benign and malignant groups (P > .3). Conclusion: In this retrospective study of patients with prostate cancer who underwent 11C-Choline PET/CT, we identified a group of patients who underwent thyroid ultrasound for incidental finding of focal 11C-Choline thyroid uptake. Incidence of malignancy in this group was 12%. Therefore, further investigation with ultrasound and possibly ultrasound-guided biopsy may be warranted when a choline avid thyroid nodule is found incidentally on choline PET.

Background: Del Nido cardioplegia (DNC) has extensively been used for pediatric population undergoing cardiac surgery. However, its use in adult cardiac surgeries have been limited thus, its benefits are not yet fully known. This analysis was performed to evaluate the impact of DNC versus any other type of cardioplegia in adult patients who are undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus from database inception till March 2023, and moderate to high-quality randomized controlled trials were included which compared DNC to other cardioplegia. The primary outcome was postoperative stroke and/or transient ischemic attack (TIA). Secondary outcomes included spontaneous rhythm return, postoperative myocardial infarction, all-cause mortality, postoperative atrial fibrillation, defibrillation after coronary reperfusion, postoperative intra-aortic balloon pump, postoperative kidney injury, postoperative low cardiac output syndrome, inotropic support, cardiopulmonary bypass time, cross-clamp time, blood transfusion, cardioplegia volume, hospital stay, intensive care unit stay, mechanical ventilation stay, postoperative left ventricular ejection fraction, and cardiac markers. Results: In this meta-analysis, 13 studies were included with a patient population of 2207. Stroke and/or TIA studies (risk ratio [RR]: 0.54, 95% CI [0.29, 1.00]) and all-cause mortality studies (RR: 1.30, 95% CI [0.66, 2.56]) were insignificant. From the secondary outcomes, spontaneous rhythm return (RR: 1.58, 95% CI [1.02, 2.45]), defibrillation after coronary reperfusion (RR: 0.49, 95% CI [0.30, 0.79]), inotropic support (RR: 0.70, 95% CI [0.57, 0.85]), composite risk of stroke and/or TIA and/or acute kidney injury and mortality (RR: 0.72, 95% CI [0.53, 0.99]), cross-clamp time (mean difference [MD]: −6.01, 95% CI [−11.14, −0.89]), blood transfusion (RR: 0.73, 95% CI [0.60, 0.90]), cardioplegia volume (MD: −537.17, 95% CI [−758.89, −315.45]), troponin T (MD: −1.71, 95% CI [−2.11, −1.32]), creatine phosphokinase-MB (MD: −2.96, 95% CI [−5.84, −0.07]) were significant. Whereas all other secondary outcomes were found to be insignificant. Conclusion: No significant difference was observed between patients undergoing Del Nido administration in comparison to other cardioplegia solutions for the primary outcome, stroke or/and TIA.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: This investigation evaluates the safety and efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) vs observation for Koos grade I vestibular schwannomas (VS). METHODS: In a multicenter study, we retrospectively analyzed data of patients with Koos grade I VS who underwent SRS (SRS group) or were observed (observation group). Propensity score matching was used to equilibrate demographics, tumor size, and audiometric data across groups. The outcome analyzed included tumor control, preservation of serviceable hearing, and neurological function. RESULTS: The study matched 142 patients, providing a median follow-up period of 36 months. SRS significantly enhanced tumor control compared with observation, with a 100% control rate at both 5- and 8-year marks in the SRS group vs 48.6% and 29.5% in the observation group at the same time intervals, respectively ( P < .001). Preservation of serviceable hearing outcomes between groups showed no significant difference at 5 and 8 years, ensuring a comparable quality of auditory function (SRS 70.1% vs observation 53.4% at 5 years; P = .33). Furthermore, SRS was associated with a reduced likelihood of tinnitus (odds ratio [OR] = 0.46, P = .04), vestibular dysfunction (OR = 0.17, P = .002), and overall cranial nerve dysfunction (OR = 0.49, P = .03) at last follow-up. CONCLUSION: SRS management of patients with Koos grade I VS was associated with superior tumor control and reduced odds for cranial nerve dysfunction, while not compromising hearing preservation compared with observation. These findings support the safety and efficacy of SRS as a primary care approach for this patient population.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the efficacy and safety of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) in comparison with watchful waiting for managing Koos grade II vestibular schwannomas (VS). METHODS: A retrospective, multicentric analysis was conducted, focusing on patients with Koos grade II VS who either received SRS (SRS group) or were observed (observation group). To ensure comparability between groups, propensity score matching was used, including factors such as demographic characteristics, tumor dimensions, and hearing assessments. The primary end points examined were tumor control, maintenance of serviceable hearing, and neurological outcomes. RESULTS: A total of 92 patients were equally matched across both cohorts, with a median follow-up of 37 months for the SRS group and 27.5 months for those observed. The SRS cohort exhibited superior tumor control over observation across 3, 5, and 8 years, achieving a 100% control rate vs 47.9%, 40.1%, and 34.3% for the observation group at these time intervals, respectively ( P < .001). Serviceable hearing preservation rates were comparable between the 2 groups throughout 3, 5, and 7 years (72.9% for SRS vs 65.4% for observation at 3 years; P = .86). Moreover, SRS management correlated with a lower incidence of vestibular symptoms (odds ratio = 0.11, P = .002), with no significant disparity in the deterioration of cranial nerve (CN) V or CN VII functions. Notably, the likelihood of experiencing any CN impairment was significantly diminished in the SRS cohort (odds ratio = 0.47, P = .04). CONCLUSION: For patients with Koos grade II VS, SRS offers superior tumor control rate and a lower risk of CN dysfunction without sacrificing hearing preservation.