Segment 4 occlusion in portal vein embolization increase future liver remnant hypertrophy : A Scandinavian cohort study

Background: The additional value of including segment 4 (S4) portal branches in right portal vein embolization (rPVE) is debated. The aim of the study was to explore this in a large multicenter cohort. Material and methods: A retrospective cohort study consisting of all patients subjected to rPVE from August 2012 to May 2017 at six Scandinavian university hospitals. PVE technique was essentially the same in all centers, except for the selection of main embolizing agent (particles or glue). All centers used coils or particles to embolize S4 branches. A subgroup analysis was performed after excluding patients with parts of or whole S4 included in the future liver remnant (FLR). Results: 232 patients were included in the study, of which 36 received embolization of the portal branches to S4 in addition to rPVE. The two groups (rPVE vs rPVE + S4) were similar (gender, age, co-morbidity, diagnosis, neoadjuvant chemotherapy, bilirubin levels prior to PVE and embolizing material), except for diabetes mellitus which was more frequent in the rPVE + S4 group (p = 0.02). Pre-PVE FLR was smaller in the S4 group (333 vs 380 ml, p = 0.01). rPVE + S4 resulted in a greater percentage increase of the FLR size compared to rPVE alone (47 vs 38%, p = 0.02). A subgroup analysis, excluding all patients with S4 included in the FLR, was done. There was no longer a difference in pre-PVE FLR between groups (333 vs 325 ml, p = 0.9), but still a greater percentage increase and also absolute increase of the FLR in the rPVE + S4 group (48 vs 38% and 155 vs 112 ml, p = 0.01 and 0.02). Conclusion: In this large multicenter cohort study, additional embolization of S4 did demonstrate superior growth of the FLR compared to standard right PVE

Fast static field CIPT mapping of unpatterned MRAM film stacks

While investigating uniformity of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) stacks we find experimentally and analytically that variation in the resistance area product (RA) is more important to monitor as compared to the tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR), which is less sensitive to MTJ variability. The standard Current In-Plane Tunneling (CIPT) method measures both RA and TMR, but the usefulness for uniformity mapping, e.g. for tool optimization, is limited by excessive measurement time. Thus, we develop and demonstrate a fast complementary static magnetic field method focused only on measurement of RA. We compare the static field method to the standard CIPT method and find perfect agreement between the extracted RA values and measurement repeatability while the static field method is several times faster. The static field CIPT method is demonstrated for 200 mm wafer mapping showing radial as well as asymmetrical variations related to the MTJ deposition conditions

How might patient involvement in healthcare quality improvement efforts work—A realist literature review

Introduction This realist literature review, regarding active patient involvement in healthcare quality improvement (QI), seeks to identify possible mechanisms that contribute to success or failure. Furthermore, the paper outlines key considerations for organising and supporting patient involvement in healthcare QI efforts.   Methods Two literature searches were performed. Altogether, 1,204 articles from a healthcare context were screened, focusing on improvement efforts that involve patients, healthcare professionals and/or managers and leaders. Among these, 107 articles fulfilled the chosen study selection criteria and were further analysed. 18 articles underwent a full realist review. In the realist synthesis, context-mechanism-outcome configurations were articulated as middle-range theories and organised thematically to generate a program theory on how active patient involvement in QI efforts might work.   Results The articles exhibited a diversity of patient involvement approaches at different levels of healthcare organisations. To be successful, organisations’ support of QI efforts that actively involved patients tailored the QI efforts to their context to achieve the desired outcomes, and involved the relevant microsystem members. Furthermore, it promoted interaction and partnership within the microsystem, and supported the behavioural change that follows. Conclusion This realist synthesis generates a program theory for active patient involvement in QI efforts; active patient involvement can be a tool (resource), if tailored for interaction and partnership (reasoning), that leads to behaviour change (outcome) within healthcare QI efforts. The theory explains essential resource and reasoning mechanisms, and outcomes that together form guidance for healthcare organisations when managing active patient involvement in QI efforts