Intracardiac thrombosis and its management during liver transplantation: international, multi-center, case-control study.

Background: Intracardiac thrombosis (ICT) during liver transplantation (LT) is a rare but life-threatening complication with limited data regarding its risk factors, management, and outcomes. This study aimed to identify factors associated with ICT development, define predictors of intraoperative outcomes and propose a novel classification and management algorithm for ICT.

Methods: A multicenter, international retrospective case-control study was conducted on liver transplant recipients from seven centers between January 2005 and December 2023.

Incidence of Vocal Cord Dysfunction in Cardiac Surgical versus Liver Transplantation Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare vocal cord dysfunction (VCD) incidence between cardiac surgical and liver transplant (LT) patients and to assess associated anesthetic and surgical risk factors.

Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Setting: A single tertiary care hospital.

The impact of semaglutide use for weight loss on transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion outcomes.

Introduction: While glucagon-like peptides 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) grow in popularity, their potential for presurgical weight optimization in spine surgery remains unclear. We examined the influence of semaglutide prescription on one- to three-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF) outcomes.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of obese, non-diabetic patients was conducted from 2018 to 2022.

Hybrid Treatment Approach for a Rare Middle Cranial Fossa Intracranial Tumor in a Pediatric Patient: A Case Report.

Pediatric central nervous system (CNS) tumors are often classified by distinct histologic and molecular features; however, some tumors remain unclassified, resulting in diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. We report a case of a previously healthy 3-year-old female who presented with right eyelid ptosis and headache. Imaging revealed a right middle cranial fossa mass.

Regional Nerve Blocks Used in Renal Transplantation and Donor Nephrectomy: A Narrative Review.

Perioperative opioid-related adverse drug events have been associated with increased length of hospitalization, higher costs, and increased patient mortality. Consequently, alternative means of analgesia, which may mitigate these risks, are important to explore. Peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs), including transversus abdominis block (TAPB), quadratus lumborum block (QLB), and erector spinae plane block (ESPB), have been used to reduce opioid requirements after renal transplant and donor nephrectomy.

The Efficacy of Mannitol in Attenuating Postreperfusion Syndrome in Orthotopic Liver Transplantation: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Postreperfusion syndrome (PRS) is associated with complications following liver transplantation (LT). Mannitol may play a role in attenuating PRS as a free radical scavenger. This study aimed to evaluate the association between intraoperative mannitol administration and the incidence of PRS and postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in LT.

Abdominal Organ Transplantation: Noteworthy Literature in 2024.

This review highlights noteworthy literature published in 2024 pertinent to anesthesiologists and critical care physicians caring for patients undergoing abdominal organ transplantation. We feature 13 studies from over 5555 peer-reviewed publications on kidney transplantation, 4 studies from 1963 publications on pancreas transplantation, and 3 studies from 1879 publications on intestinal transplantation. The liver transplantation section includes a special focus on 22 studies from 4571 clinical trials published in 2024.

Opioid administration across racial and ethnic groups for patients undergoing liver resection: are there disparities?

Background: Racial and ethnic disparities in the treatment of perioperative pain have not been well-studied, despite being observed in a variety of other medical settings. The goal of this investigation was to evaluate the relationship between race and ethnicity and intra- and postoperative opioid administration for patients undergoing open liver resection surgery.

Methods: In this single-center retrospective cohort study, adult patients undergoing open liver resection from January 2012 to May 2019 were identified.

Engineering thioesterase as a driving force for novel itaconate production via its degradation scheme.

Incorporation of irreversible steps in pathway design enhances the overall thermodynamic favorability and often leads to better bioconversion yield given functional enzymes. Using this concept, here we constructed the first non-natural itaconate biosynthesis pathway driven by thioester hydrolysis. Itaconate is a commercially valuable platform chemical with wide applications in the synthetic polymer industry.

Acoustically targeted measurement of transgene expression in the brain.

Gene expression is a critical component of brain physiology, but monitoring this expression in the living brain represents a major challenge. Here, we introduce a new paradigm called recovery of markers through insonation (REMIS) for noninvasive measurement of gene expression in the brain with cell type, spatial, and temporal specificity. Our approach relies on engineered protein markers that are produced in neurons but exit into the brain's interstitium.

In-hospital outcomes following surgery versus conservative therapy in elderly patients with C2 fractures: a propensity score-matched analysis.

Objective: Second cervical vertebrae (C2) fractures are a common traumatic spinal injury in the elderly population. Surgical fusion and nonoperative bracing are two primary treatments for cervical instability, but the former is often withheld in the elderly due to concerns for poor postoperative outcomes arising from patient frailty. This study sought to evaluate the in-hospital differences in mortality, outcomes, and discharge disposition in elderly patients with C2 fractures undergoing surgical intervention compared with conservative therapy.

Dimensions of Uncertainty: A spatiotemporal review of five COVID-19 datasets.

COVID-19 surveillance across the U.S. is essential to tracking and mitigating the pandemic, but data representing cases and deaths may be impacted by attribute, spatial, and temporal uncertainties.

Asystolic donor warm ischemia time is associated with development of postreperfusion syndrome in donation after circulatory death liver transplant.

Background: Individual events during donation after circulatory death (DCD) procurement, such as hypotensive or hypoxic warm ischemia, or circulatory arrest are all a part of donor warm ischemia time (dWIT), and may have differing effects on the outcome of the liver graft. This study aimed to identify risk factors for postreperfusion syndrome (PRS), a state of severe hemodynamic derangement following graft reperfusion, and its impact on DCD liver transplantation (LT) outcomes.

Methods: This was a retrospective analysis using 106 DCD LT.

Abdominal Organ Transplantation: Noteworthy Literature in 2023.

This review highlights noteworthy literature published in 2023 and pertinent to anesthesiologists and critical care physicians caring for patients undergoing abdominal organ transplantation. We feature 9 studies from 593 peer-reviewed papers on pancreatic transplantation, 3 from 194 on intestinal transplantation, and 28 from over 4513 on kidney transplantation. The liver transplantation section includes a special focus on 20 studies from 5666 clinical trial publications.

Drop the shortcuts: image augmentation improves fairness and decreases AI detection of race and other demographics from medical images.

Background: It has been shown that AI models can learn race on medical images, leading to algorithmic bias. Our aim in this study was to enhance the fairness of medical image models by eliminating bias related to race, age, and sex. We hypothesise models may be learning demographics via shortcut learning and combat this using image augmentation.

Effect of LiLaZrTaO Fillers on the Interfacial Properties between Composite PEO-LiTFSI Electrolytes with Li Metal during Cycling.

PEO-LiX solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) with the addition of LiLaZrTaO (LLZTO) fillers is considered as a promising solid-state electrolyte for solid-state Li-ion batteries. However, the developments of the SPE have caused additional challenges, such as poor contact interface and SPE/Li interface stability during cycling, which always lead to potentially catastrophic battery failure. The main problem is that the real impact of LLZTO fillers on the interfacial properties between SPE and Li metal is still unclear.

Unveiling the evolving landscape of stroke care costs: A time-driven analysis.

Introduction: Stroke is a common cause of mortality in the United States. However, the economic burden of stroke on the healthcare system is not well known. In this study, we aim to calculate the annual cumulative and per-patient cost of stroke.

Safety and efficacy of intrathecal baclofen trials for the treatment of hypertonia: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: Intrathecal baclofen (ITB) is an effective treatment for refractory hypertonia in children. ITB has long been effective for the treatment of spasticity, and indications have naturally evolved to include dystonia and mixed pediatric movement disorders (PMDs). The established uses for ITB trials are insurance prerequisite, mixed tone, and family request.

Disparities and Trends in Routine Adult Vaccination Rates Among Disaggregated Asian American Subgroups, National Health Interview Survey 2006-2018.

Introduction: Vaccination rates may be improved through culturally tailored messages, but little is known about them among disaggregated Asian American subgroups. We assessed the vaccination rates for key vaccines among these subgroups.

Methods: Using the National Health Interview Survey, we analyzed recent vaccination rates (2015-2018, =188,250) and trends (2006-2018) among Asians (Chinese [=3,165], Asian Indian [=3,525], Filipino [=3,656], other Asian [=5,819]) and non-Hispanic White adults (=172,085) for 6 vaccines (the human papillomavirus, hepatitis B, pneumococcal, influenza, tetanus-diphtheria [tetanus], and shingles vaccines).

Enabling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease diagnosis through chest X-rays: A multi-site and multi-modality study.

Purpose: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is one of the most common chronic illnesses in the world. Unfortunately, COPD is often difficult to diagnose early when interventions can alter the disease course, and it is underdiagnosed or only diagnosed too late for effective treatment. Currently, spirometry is the gold standard for diagnosing COPD but it can be challenging to obtain, especially in resource-poor countries.

Parkinson's disease - current treatment.

Purpose Of Review: The purpose is to review the results and impact of recent studies for current and future treatment of both motor and non-motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease (PD).

Recent Findings: New formulations of levodopa further optimize motor fluctuations, allowing for more on-time and less dyskinesia. On demand apomorphine continues to showcase itself as an effective and tolerable tool for treating motor off-periods.