Search

Pulmonary nodules (PNs) arising in the lung transplant recipient pose a diagnostic challenge for providers. Conventional computed tomography (CT) has improved our ability to detect PNs in this population, but establishing a confident diagnosis with imaging alone remains difficult. Dual-energy spectral detector CT is a novel, emerging technology that provides insight into the radiographic behavior of PNs, and has potential in differentiating benign from malignant morphologies. Herein, we report a case of a PN in a lung transplant recipient whose initial diagnostic work-up was inconclusive, but then had the diagnosis rendered using a spectral detector CT.

Conventional computed tomography (CT) plays an important role in detection of lung nodules. However, further characterization is usually limited requiring additional imaging and invasive work up. Spectral Detector CT (SDCT) is an upcoming novel modality that not only allows morphological evaluation but also provides insight into prediction of malignant behavior of lung nodules. Additional quantification capabilities available from the same scan make it a more comprehensive imaging option in oncology patients. This is a first case report demonstrating the potential of single SDCT to provide necessary information for lung cancer diagnosis and preoperative planning, comparable to standard of care imaging.

Background: The standard approach to hemostasis during partial nephrectomy (PN) is to perform suture renorrhaphy (SR). Application of a hemostatic bandage (HB) is an alternative to minimize blood loss and devitalized renal parenchyma. We aim to evaluate perioperative outcomes of PN with tumor enucleation (TE) comparing SR to HB., Methods: We analyzed a retrospective cohort of 195 patients undergoing robot-assisted laparoscopic PN with TE performed at a tertiary referral center (2012-2022). Hemostasis was obtained with SR in 54 patients while 141 patients underwent application of HB consisting of Surgicel®, Gelfoam® soaked in thrombin, and Floseal®., Results: SR patients had tumors of greater complexity by RENAL nephrometry score compared to HB patients (p < 0.001). Operative time (141 vs. 183 min, p < 0.001), warm ischemia time (11.6 vs. 24.2 min, p < 0.001), estimated blood loss (37 vs. 214 mL, p < 0.001), and length of stay (1.2 vs. 1.8 days, p < 0.001) favored HB. There was no significant difference in Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3 complications (p = 0.22). Renal function was comparable with mean estimated glomerular filtration rate decrease of 0.66 and 0.54 mL/min/1.73 m 2 at 3 months postoperatively for HB and SR, respectively (p = 0.93)., Conclusions: Application of an HB is a safe alternative to SR for hemostasis following PN with TE in appropriately selected patients., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

We aim to compare complications, readmission, survival, and prescribing patterns of opioids for post-operative pain management for Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical cystectomy (RARC) as compared to open radical cystectomy (ORC). Patients that underwent RARC or ORC for bladder cancer at a tertiary care center from 2005 to 2021 were included. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models. Comparisons of narcotic usage were completed with oral morphine equivalents (OMEQ). Multivariable linear regression was used to assess predictors of OMEQ utilization. A total of 128 RARC and 461 ORC patients were included. There was no difference in rates of Clavien-Dindo grade ≥ 3 complications between RARC and ORC (36.7 vs 30.1%, p = 0.16). After a mean follow up of 3.4 years, RFS (HR 0.96, 95%CI 0.58-1.56) and OS (HR 0.69, 95%CI 0.46-1.05) were comparable between RARC and ORC. There was no difference in the narcotic usage between patients in the RARC and ORC groups during the last 24 h of hospitalization (median OMEQ: 0 vs 0, p = 0.33) and upon discharge (median OMEQ: 178 vs 210, p = 0.36). Predictors of higher OMEQ discharge prescriptions included younger age [(- )3.46, 95%CI (-)5.5-(-)0.34], no epidural during hospitalization [- 95.85, 95%CI (- )144.95-(- )107.36], and early time-period of surgery [(- )151.04, 95%CI (- )194.72-(- )107.36]. RARC has comparable 90-day complication rates and early survival outcomes to ORC and remains a viable option for bladder cancer. RARC results in comparable levels of opioid utilization for pain management as ORC., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag London Ltd., part of Springer Nature.)

Introduction: Malignant ureteral obstruction is associated with a poor prognosis, with a median survival of 3 to 7 months. These patients are ideal candidates for concurrent palliative care services, consistent with American Society of Clinical Oncology guidelines. We aimed to characterize palliative care, hospice, and end-of-life health care utilization in patients with malignant ureteral obstruction., Methods: Patients ≥ 18 years old at our institution and diagnosed with malignant ureteral obstruction between May 2014 and August 2020 were retrospectively identified and pertinent data extracted. Palliative care, hospice, and end-of-life health care utilization was described, and factors associated with each were assessed with logistic regression models. Overall survival was assessed with Cox proportional hazard regression models., Results: One hundred fifteen patients qualified for analysis; 39.1% (45/115) utilized palliative care and spent a median of 12.5 days (IQR 3-52 days) on nonhospice palliative care. On adjusted analysis Black ethnicity (aOR 3.44, 95% CI: 1.08-10.94) was associated with palliative care utilization. Of the patients, 53.9% (62/115) utilized hospice. The median time from hospice initiation to death was 12 days (IQR 5-23 days). On adjusted analysis, prior extirpative surgery (aOR 3.63, 95% CI 1.01-13.05) and palliative care utilization (aOR 4.38, 95% CI 1.70-11.31) were associated with hospice utilization. Median survival following diagnosis was 141 days (IQR 37.5-442.5). Of the patients, 43.0% (37/86) had high end-of-life health care utilization. On multivariable analysis, only hospice (aOR 0.03, 95% CI 0.01-0.14) was associated with less end-of-life health care utilization., Conclusions: Palliative care is underutilized in malignant ureteral obstruction. Hospice, but not palliative care utilization, was associated with decreased end-of-life health care utilization.

Objectives: Convective water vapor thermal therapy (CWVTT-Rezum) is a minimally invasive surgical therapy that is being increasingly utilized for bladder outlet obstruction. Most patients leave the site of care with a Foley catheter in place for a mean reported duration of 3-4 days. A minority of men will fail their trial without catheter (TWOC). We aim to identify the frequency of TWOC failure following CWVTT and its associated risk factors., Methods: Patients who underwent CWVTT at a single institution from October 2018 to May 2021 were retrospectively identified and pertinent data extracted. The primary endpoint was TWOC failure. Descriptive statistics were performed, and rate of TWOC failure was determined. Potential risk factors for failed TWOC were assessed through univariate and multivariate logistic regression., Results: A total of 119 patients were analyzed. Seventeen percent (20/119) had a failed TWOC on their first attempt. Of those, 60% (12/20) failed in a delayed fashion. In patients who failed, the median number of total TWOC attempts required for success was two (interquartile range [IQR] = 2-3). All patients eventually had a successful TWOC. The median preoperative postvoid residual for successful and failed TWOC was 56 mL (IQR = 15-125) and 87 mL (IQR = 25-367), respectively. Preoperative elevated postvoid residual (unadjusted odds ratio [OR] 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04; adjusted OR 1.02, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04) was associated with TWOC failure., Conclusions: Seventeen percent of patients failed their initial TWOC after CWVTT. Elevated postvoid residual was associated with TWOC failure., (© 2023 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

In an effort to investigate the molecular determinants of ligand recognition of the C-terminal SH2 domain of the SHP2 protein, we conducted extensive site-directed mutagenesis and kinetic binding experiments with a peptide mimicking a specific portion of a physiological ligand (the scaffold protein Gab2). Obtained data provided an in-depth characterization of the binding reaction, allowing us to pinpoint residues topologically far from the binding pocket of the SH2 domain to have a role in the recognition and binding of the peptide. The presence of a sparse energetic network regulating the interaction with Gab2 was identified and characterized through double mutant cycle analysis, performed by challenging all the designed site-directed variants of C-SH2 with a Gab2 peptide mutated at +3 position relative to its phosphorylated tyrosine, a key residue for C-SH2 binding specificity. Results highlighted non-optimized residues involved in the energetic network regulating the binding with Gab2, which may be at the basis of the ability of this SH2 domain to interact with different partners in the intracellular environment. Moreover, a detailed analysis of kinetic and thermodynamic parameters revealed the role of the residue at +3 position on Gab2 in the early and late events of the binding reaction with the C-SH2 domain., (© 2023 The Authors. Protein Science published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of The Protein Society.)

Methionine S-adenosyltransferase deficiency, due to mutations in MAT1A , is the most common cause of persistent isolated hypermethioninemia (PIH). While the recessive form may cause neurological consequences, the dominant form is typically benign. This condition may be found in asymptomatic infants through newborn screening programs. We describe 16 asymptomatic individuals with PIH. Our data reiterates the benign nature of PIH and reports two novel mutations in the gene. There were a disproportionate number of individuals with African descent in this cohort.

A series of 1,6-disubstituted indoline derivatives were synthesized and evaluated as inhibitors of human nitric oxide synthase (NOS) designed to mitigate the cardiovascular liabilities associated with previously reported tetrahydroquinoline-based selective neuronal NOS inhibitors due to higher lipophilicity ( J. Med. Chem. 2011 , 54 , 5562 - 5575 ). This new series produced similar potency and selectivity among the NOS isoforms and was devoid of any cardiovascular liabilities associated with QT prolongation due to hERG activity or endothelial NOS mediated vasoconstriction effect. The SAR studies led to the identification of cis-45, which was shown to reverse thermal hyperalgesia in vivo in the spinal nerve ligation model of neuropathic pain with excellent safety profile (off-target activities at 80 CNS related receptors/ion channels/transporters). The results presented in this report make cis-45 as an ideal tool for evaluating the potential role of selective nNOS inhibitors in CNS related disorders where excess NO produced by nNOS is thought to play a crucial role.