13 research outputs found

    Membranome Similarity between Glioblastoma Multiforme Cell Lines and Primary Tumors.

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    Genes encoding for proteins associated with the plasma membrane, referred to as the membranome, have long been recognized to play an important role in the development and maintenance of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). GBM cell lines are commonly used to mimic tumors fo

    Utilizing the Ethereum blockchain for retrieving and archiving augmented reality surgical navigation data.

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    AIM: Conventional techniques to share and archive spinal imaging data raise issues with trust and security, with novel approaches being more greatly considered. Ethereum smart contracts present one such novel approach. Ethereum is an open-source platform that allows for the use of smart contracts. Smart contracts are packages of code that are self-executing and reside in the Ethereum state, defining conditions for programmed transactions. Though powerful, limited attempts have been made to showcase the clinical utility of such technologies, especially in the pre- and post-operative imaging arenas. Herein, we therefore aim to propose a proof-of-concept smart contract that stores intraoperative three-dimensional (3D) augmented reality surgical navigation (ARSN) data and was tested on a private, proof-of-authority network. To the author\u27s best knowledge, the present study represents a first-use case of the Interplanetary File Storage protocol for storing and retrieving spine imaging smart contracts. METHODS: The content identifier hashes were stored inside the smart contracts while the interplanetary file system (IPFS) was used to efficiently store the image files. Insertion was achieved with four storage mappings, one for each of the following: fictitious patient data, specific diagnosis, patient identity document (ID), and Gertzbein grade. Inserted patient observations were then queried with wildcards. Insertion and retrieval times for different record volumes were collected. RESULTS: It took 276 milliseconds to insert 50 records and 713 milliseconds to insert 350 records. Inserting 50 records required 934 Megabyte (MB) of memory per insertion with patient data and imaging, while inserting 350 records required almost the same amount of memory per insertion. In a database of 350 records, the retrieval function needs about 1,026 MB to query a record with all three fields left blank, but only 970 MB to obtain the same observation from a database of 50 records. CONCLUSIONS: The concept presented in this study exemplifies the clinical utility of smart contracts and off-chain data storage for efficient retrieval/insertion of ARSN data

    Outcomes of surgical management and implant consideration for depressed skull fractures: A systematic review.

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    BACKGROUND: Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are associated with high mortality and morbidity. Depressed skull fractures (DSFs) are a subset of fractures characterized by either direct or indirect brain damage, compressing brain tissue. Recent advances in implant use during primary reconstruction surgeries have shown to be effective. In this systematic review, we assess differences in titanium mesh, polyetheretherketone (PEEK) implants, autologous pericranial grafts, and methyl methacrylate (PMMA) implants for DSF treatment. METHODS: A literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from their inception to September 2022 to retrieve articles regarding the use of various implant materials for depressed skull fractures. Inclusion criteria included studies specifically describing implant type/material within treatment of depressed skull fractures, particularly during duraplasty. Exclusion criteria were studies reporting only non-primary data, those insufficiently disaggregated to extract implant type, those describing treatment of pathologies other than depressed skull fractures, and non-English or cadaveric studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was utilized to assess for presence of bias in included studies. RESULTS: Following final study selection, 18 articles were included for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Of the 177 patients (152 males), mean age was 30.8 years with 82% implanted with autologous graft material, and 18% with non-autologous material. Data were pooled and analyzed with respect to the total patient set, and additionally stratified into those treated through autologous and non-autologous implant material.There were no differences between the two cohorts regarding mean time to encounter, pre-operative Glasgow coma scale (GCS), fracture location, length to cranioplasty, and complication rate. There were statistically significant differences in post-operative GCS (p \u3c 0.0001), LOS (p = 0.0274), and minimum follow-up time (p = 0.000796). CONCLUSION: Differences in measurable post-operative outcomes between implant groups were largely minimal or none. Future research should aim to probe these basic results deeper with a larger, non-biased sample

    Omics analysis of uveal melanoma: Leukocyte gene signatures reveal novel survival distinctions and indicate a prognostic role for cytolytic activity scoring.

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    OBJECTIVE: The significant metastatic potential of uveal melanoma (UVM) lends to high mortality. Even with successful local tumor treatment, many patients will develop metastatic disease. The present study aims to elucidate the relationship between tumor-infiltrating immune cell (TIIC) diversity and survival to identify potential therapeutic targets and improve UVM prognosis. METHODS: Bulk deconvolution was used to determine the relative proportions of 22 hematopoietic TIIC from 80 UVM tumor samples. Cytolytic activity (CYT) was determined, and associated survival probabilities were mined using time-to-event data. Nominal RESULTS: High relative abundance of tumor-infiltrating naïve B cells, resting memory CD4 CONCLUSION: Infiltrating naïve B cells, resting memory CD

    Publishing on Topical Subjects in Total Joint Arthroplasty is Associated with Increased Social Media Attention.

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    BACKGROUND: Social media platforms are often used for research dissemination and collaboration. Given the increased prevalence of online-only publications, understanding what drives research dissemination is important. Here, we analyzed factors associated with increased social media attention among peer-reviewed publications in total knee arthroplasty (TKA), total hip arthroplasty (TKA), and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA). METHODS: We analyzed publications about TKA, THA, or UKA from 2010 to 2022 using a national database. We analyzed a weighted count of social media mentions, using negative binomial regressions adjusting for days since publication. Publications on hot topics in arthroplasty were examined including navigation/robotics, COVID-19, race/ethnicity, body mass index (BMI), and reimbursement. There were 9,542 publications included, 4,216 (44%) were open access, 338 (3.5%) included navigation, 32 (0.34%) discussed race/ethnicity, 20 (0.2%) discussed COVID-19, 3,840 (40%) were randomized studies, 30 (0.3%) discussed reimbursement, and 2,867 (30%) were in top 10 orthopaedic journals. RESULTS: Factors associated with higher weighted score included studies about COVID-19 (50 vs. 6.0, P CONCLUSION: Studies on COVID-19, race/ethnicity, randomized studies, and open access publication were associated with increased social media while those in top-10 orthopaedic journals had lower scores

    Current Approaches to Craniopharyngioma Management.

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    Craniopharyngiomas (CP) are rare noncancerous brain tumors located in the skull base. To date, CP remain challenging-to-resect tumors, owing to their difficult location and invasive potential, with profound adverse effects for the patient if left to grow. Indeed, gross total resection may also be accompanied by unwelcome sequalae, underscoring the need for continued investigation. In the present work, we provide a scoping review of current CP management, with emphasis on our knowledge of their genesis, available treatment options, post-intervention clinical outcomes. Leading theories of CP development are (1) the embryonic theory, explaining the development of adamantinomatous CP from epithelial remnants of Rathke\u27s pouch and (2) the metaplastic theory, which describes papillary CP development as a result of adenohypophyseal cell metaplasia. Treatment may include surgery, intracystic therapy, or irradiation depending on tumor size, history and location. However, whether a single ideal approach and timing for CP intervention exists remains debated. We appraise and critique these areas with priority for emerging basic results and innovation

    Effects of Spinal Deformities on Hiatal Hernia Occurrence and Recurrence.

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    BACKGROUND: Spinal deformities such as kyphosis, lordosis, and scoliosis have demonstrated a possible association between these deformities. Our hypothesis is that the presence of spinal deformities will increase the risk of hiatal hernia recurrence after repair. METHODS: The following data was retrospectively gleaned for patients undergoing hiatal hernia repair (1997-2022): age, sex, date of hiatal hernia repair, presence and type of spinal deformity, Cobb angle, type of hiatal hernia and size, type of hiatal hernia repair, recurrence and size, time to recurrence, reoperation, type of reoperation, and time to reoperation. RESULTS: Spinal deformities were present in 15.8% of 546 patients undergoing hiatal hernia repair, with a distribution of 21.8% kyphosis, 2.3% lordosis, 58.6% scoliosis, and 17.2% multiple. There was no difference in sex or age between groups. Spinal deformity patients were more likely to have types III and IV hiatal hernias (52.3% vs. 38.9%, p = 0.02) and larger hernias (median 5 [3-8] vs. 4 [2-6], p = 0.01). There was no difference in access, fundoplication use, or mesh use between groups. However, these patients had a higher recurrence rate (47.7% vs 30.0%, p = 0.001) and a shorter time to recurrence (months) (10.3 [5.6-25.1] vs 19.2 [9.8-51.0], p = 0.02). Cobb angle did not affect recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Spinal deformity patients were more likely to have more complex and larger hiatal hernias. They were at higher risk of hiatal hernia recurrence after repair with shorter times to recurrence. This is a group that requires special attention with additional preoperative counseling and possibly use of surgical adjuncts in repair

    The Association between Race and Extended Length of Stay in Low-energy Proximal Humerus Fractures in Elderly Patients.

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    INTRODUCTION: Proximal humerus fractures (PHFs) are one of the most common fractures among patients aged 65 years and older, commonly due to low-energy mechanisms. It is essential to identify drivers of increased healthcare utilization in geriatric PHF patients and bring awareness to any disparities in care. Here, we identify factors associated with the likelihood of inpatient admission and prolonged hospital stay among patients aged 65 years and older who sustain PHF due to falls. METHODS: A national database was used to identify patients aged 65 years and older who suffered proximal humeral fractures due to a fall. Patient factors were analyzed for association with the likelihood of admission and odds of prolonged stay (≥5 days). RESULTS: In the study period, 75,385 PHF patients who met our inclusion criteria presented to the emergency department and 14,118 (18.7%) were admitted. Black race was significantly associated with decreased odds of admission (P \u3c 0.001) and increased likelihood of prolonged stay (P = 0.007) compared with White patients. Patients aged 75 to 84 and 85+ were both more likely to be admitted (P \u3c 0.001) and experienced a prolonged hospital stay (P = 0.015). Patients undergoing surgical intervention with reverse total shoulder arthroplasty were associated with admission and prolonged length of stay (P \u3c 0.001). Hospitals in Midwestern (P \u3c 0.001) and Western (P \u3c 0.001) regions exhibited lower rates of admission and Northeastern hospitals were associated with prolonged stays (P = 0.001). Finally, trauma and nonmetropolitan (P \u3c 0.001) centers were associated with admission. CONCLUSION: Our study highlights the notable influence of age and race on the likelihood of hospital admission and prolonged hospital stay. Specifically, Black patients exhibited prolonged hospital stay, which has been associated with lower-quality care, warranting additional exploration. Understanding these demographic and hospital-related factors is essential for optimizing resource allocation and reducing healthcare disparities in the care of PHF patients, especially as the population ages and the incidence of PHF continues to rise

    Genomic subtypes of cutaneous melanoma have distinct metabolic profiles: A single-cell transcriptomic analysis.

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    OBJECTIVE: Genomic profiling previously classified melanoma into distinct subtypes based on the presence or absence of mutations in driver genes, but metabolic differences between and within these groups have yet to be thoroughly analyzed. Thus, the objective of the present study is to provide the first effort to holistically characterize the metabolic landscape of qualified melanoma genomic subtypes at single-cell resolution. METHODS: Expression data for a total of 1145 malignant cells sourced from NRAS(Q61L), BRAF(V600E), and NRAS/BRAF WT melanomas were retrieved from the Broad Single Cell Portal. Metabolic activity was interrogated by pathway scoring and gene set enrichment analysis. RESULTS: A total of 53 metabolic pathways were differentially regulated in at least one melanoma genomic subtype. Some notable findings include: BRAF/NRAS WT cells were enriched for fatty acid biosynthesis and depleted for metabolism of alanine, aspartate, and glutamate; BRAF(V600E) melanoma cells were enriched for beta-alanine metabolism and depleted for phenylalanine metabolism; NRAS(Q61L) melanoma cells were enriched for steroid biosynthesis and depleted for linoleic acid metabolism. CONCLUSION: Primary limitations include the total quantity of single cells and breadth of available genomic subtypes plus inherent noisiness of the applied methodologies. Nonetheless, these findings nominate novel, testable therapeutic targets
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