Operative Techniques and Pitfalls in Donor Heart-Lung Procurement

Background

Heart-lung transplantation is a well-established therapeutic modality for concomitant end-stage heart and lung failure. With growing organ scarcity, the rates of these transplants are declining, and center experience is waning.

Influence of limb alignment and prosthetic orientation on patient-reported clinical outcomes in total knee arthroplasty

BackgroundThe relationship between postoperative limb alignment and clinical outcomes in primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is well reported, but the instruments used to evaluate clinical outcomes of TKA are mainly scoring systems from the physician's viewpoint, not patient-reported outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate retrospectively the relationship between postoperative limb alignment and patient-reported clinical outcomes using the 2011 Knee Society Knee Scoring System (2011 KSS).MethodsThe present study included 155 knees of patients (median age, 74 years) who underwent primary TKA for varus osteoarthritis, with a mean follow-up period of 46 months. The subjects were divided into three groups based on postoperative limb alignment and femoral and tibial component positioning angle (varus, neutral, and valgus). The 2011 KSS scores were compared among the groups.ResultsFor limb alignment, the postoperative objective knee indicator score was significantly lower in the valgus group than in the varus and neutral groups, whereas no significant differences were observed in any subjective categories of the 2011 KSS. However, for the femoral component angle, functional activity scores were significantly lower in the valgus group than in the varus and neutral groups.ConclusionsThe subjective patient-reported score was not affected by the postoperative limb alignment. However, the valgus femoral component angle resulted in lower subjective functional scores. For clinical relevance, postoperative valgus positioning of femoral component should be avoided from patient-reported functional aspects during TKA.     

Prediction of quadriceps strength recovery after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with a hamstring autograft: Decision tree analysis

Background

The wide variations in patient demographics and concomitant injuries make the prediction of which patients will regain strength quickly following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction challenging. This study aimed to identify the dominant factor affecting quadriceps strength recovery after ACL reconstruction with a hamstring tendon autograft and to construct a predictive model for quadriceps strength recovery using decision tree analysis.

Identification of men with low-risk biopsy-confirmed prostate cancer as candidates for active surveillance

Background

A combined clinical cell-cycle risk (CCR) score that incorporates prognostic molecular and clinical information has been recently developed and validated to improve prostate cancer mortality (PCM) risk stratification over clinical features alone. As clinical features are currently used to select men for active surveillance (AS), we developed and validated a CCR score threshold to improve the identification of men with low-risk disease who are appropriate for AS.

Western Vascular Society guidelines for transfer of patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm

Introduction

When a patient with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (rAAA) presents at a facility ill-equipped to provide care, transfer may provide the best chance for survival. Large distances and long travel times provide challenging barriers to prompt and appropriate care in the western United States.

Percutaneous transvenous endomyocardial biopsy in human heart recipients. Experience with a new technique

Sixty-seven cardiac biopsy procedures have been performed in 17 cardiac transplant recipients at Stanford University Medical Center. Six other patients were biopsied as part of their assessment prior to transplantation. Biopsies were performed percutaneously through a sheath inserted into the right internal jugular vein. Two instruments were used, a Konno-Sakakibara bioptome and a new catheter biopsy forceps of our own design. Biopsies of the endomyocardium sufficient for examination by light and electron microscopy were obtained on all but one occasion. There were no deaths and no serious complications.Serial biopsies performed in the first two months after transplantation were used to diagnose and aid the management of acute rejection episodes. Biopsies on long-term survivors permitted the recognition of late acute rejection episodes and provided a new assessment of the myocardium following cardiac transplantation.Percutaneous transvenous endomyocardial biopsy is simple and safe to perform and is an important new aid in the management of patients following cardiac transplantation.     

The expanding repertoire of targets for immune checkpoint inhibition in bladder cancer: What lies beneath the tip of the iceberg,PD-L1

Over the last decade, a new understanding of tumor-immune system interplay has been ushered in, lead in large part by the discovery of immune checkpoints mediated through B7-CD28 family interactions. Therapeutic blockade of the PD-L1 immune checkpoint pathway has already shown great success as a cancer immunotherapy for advanced urothelial carcinoma, leading to durable clinical remissions in an otherwise incurable disease. There are newly described members of the B7-CD28 family including B7-H3, B7x, and HHLA2. These ligands are thought to play an essential role in suppressing T-cell response, leading to immune tolerance of tumors. This feature makes them attractive targets for novel immunotherapy treatment paradigms. Here, we review the literature of current strategies and future directions of immune checkpoint blockade therapy for bladder cancer.     

Recent developments in the management of bladder cancer: Introduction

An upsurge of advances in the management of bladder cancer has rapidly occurred over the past 2 years. In this issue, recent developments in the management of bladder cancer will be discussed, including the emerging role of immunotherapy, biomarkers, and advanced imaging.     

Once-weekly teriparatide reduces serum sclerostin levels in postmenopausal women with osteoprosis

Once-weekly teriparatide treatment is widely used in the treatment of osteoporosis in Japan but the mechanisms causing the increase in bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine remain unknown. Methods: This prospective study examined the effects of once-weekly teriparatide treatment on the serum levels of sclerostin, osteocalcin, and bone formation markers as well as BMD of the lumbar spine and femoral neck in 32 postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. Results: The mean age of subjects was 76.3 ± 7.0 years old. Teriparatide significantly reduced serum sclerostin levels at 12 and 18 months in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, and significantly increased serum osteocalcin levels at 3,12 and 18 months and PINP levels at 1 and 3 months, respectively. Teriparatide treatment significantly increased BMD of the lumbar spine at 6, 12, and 18 months, but did not affect BMD of the femoral neck. Examination of the relationships between percent changes in bone metabolic indices and BMD of the lumbar spine during the teriparatide treatment showed serum sclerostin changes at 3 months were negatively correlated with BMD changes of the lumbar spine at 6, 12, and 18 months. Serum osteocalcin changes were not correlated with BMD changes in the lumbar spine at 12 months. Conclusions: The present study showed that once-weekly teriparatide treatment reduced serum sclerostin levels in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. The effects of teriparatide on sclerostin may be associated with the response of the BMD of the lumbar spine.     

Trends in management of the small renal mass in renal transplant recipient candidates: A multi-institutional survey analysis

Introduction

Patients with end-stage renal disease are under increased risk for renal cell carcinoma development, and radical nephrectomy is the preferred treatment in this setting. Owing to the increased surgical morbidity and mortality, active surveillance (AS) may be a valid option for treatment of small renal masses (SRM). As there is a lack of high-level evidence for treatment recommendations, we performed a survey analysis to analyze the treatment patterns of transplant surgeons.