Inpatient Rehabilitation after Liver Transplantation Decreases Risk and Severity of 30-Day Readmissions.

Background: Discharge location is associated with short-term readmission rates after hospitalization for several medical and surgical diagnoses. We hypothesized that discharge location: home, home health, skilled nursing facility (SNF), long-term acute care (LTAC), or inpatient rehabilitation, independently predicted the risk of 30-day readmission and severity of first readmission after orthotopic liver transplantation.

Study Design: We performed a retrospective cohort review using Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) State Inpatient Databases for Florida and California.

Early Intervention during Acute Stone Admissions: Revealing "The Weekend Effect" in Urological Practice.

Purpose: Obstructing nephrolithiasis is a common condition that can require urgent intervention. In this study we analyze patient factors that contribute to delayed intervention during acute stone admission.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the HCUP SID (Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database) for Florida and California from 2007 to 2011.

Components of Hospital Perioperative Infrastructure Can Overcome the Weekend Effect in Urgent General Surgery Procedures.

Objective: We hypothesized that perioperative hospital resources could overcome the "weekend effect" (WE) in patients undergoing emergent/urgent surgeries.

Summary Background Data: The WE is the observation that surgeon-independent patient outcomes are worse on the weekend compared with weekdays. The WE is often explained by differences in staffing and resources resulting in variation in care between the week and weekend.

"Right place at the right time" impacts outcomes for acute intestinal obstruction.

Background: The purpose of this study was to measure how the duration of nonoperative intervention for intestinal obstruction impacted patient outcomes and whether hospital characteristics influenced the timing of operative intervention.

Methods: The State Inpatient Database (Florida) of the Health Care Utilization Project and the Annual Survey database of the American Hospital Association were linked from 2006 to 2011. Included were patients ≥18 years of age with a primary diagnosis of intestinal obstruction.

Green tea component epigallocatechin-3-gallate decreases expression of osteopontin via a decrease in mRNA half-life in cell lines of metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma.

Introduction: Osteopontin (OPN) mediates metastasis and invasion of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), found in green tea, suppresses HCC tumor growth in vitro. We sought to investigate the role of EGCG in modulating OPN in cell lines of metastatic HCC.

The "weekend effect" in urgent general operative procedures.

Background: There is growing concern that the quality of inpatient care may differ on weekends versus weekdays. We assessed the "weekend effect" in common urgent general operative procedures.

Methods: The Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Florida State Inpatient Database (2007-2010) was queried to identify inpatient stays with urgent or emergent admissions and surgery on the same day.

Alcohol inhibits osteopontin-dependent transforming growth factor-β1 expression in human mesenchymal stem cells.

Alcohol (EtOH) intoxication is a risk factor for increased morbidity and mortality with traumatic injuries, in part through inhibition of bone fracture healing. Animal models have shown that EtOH decreases fracture callus volume, diameter, and biomechanical strength. Transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and osteopontin (OPN) play important roles in bone remodeling and fracture healing.

Surgical resident evaluations of portable laparoscopic box trainers incorporated into a simulation-based minimally invasive surgery curriculum.

Introduction: Box trainers have been shown to be an effective tool for teaching laparoscopic skills; however, residents are challenged to find practice time. Portable trainers theoretically allow for extended hands on practice out of the hospital. We aimed to report resident experience with laparoscopic home box trainers.