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Journal and News Scan
May 23, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This is among the first and largest summaries of the use of neoadjuvant PD-1 inhibitor (nivolumab) in patients with resectable lung cancer. The safety profile was adequate, 20 of 21 patients underwent complete resection, and the pathologic major response rate was 45%. The response was similar regardless of PD-L1 status, and response was related to tumor mutational burden.
May 23, 2018
Submitted by: Claire Vernon
Kawatsu and colleagues performed a retrospective analysis of preoperative characteristics and laboratory data for patients who did and did not exhibit heparin resistance (n = 25 and n = 464, respectively) prior to establishment of cardiopulmonary bypass for a cardiovascular operation. They identified chronic thoracic aortic dissection, smoking, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and elevated fibrinogen as independent predictors for heparin resistance. The authors conclude that patients with these predictive factors could potentially be given antithrombin-III if an initial dose of heparin does not achieve the desired activated clotting time, rather than being given an additional heparin dose that may be ineffective.
May 23, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Using eight computed tomography radiographic features in an automated algorithm, differentiating between benign and malignant status of indeterminate pulmonary nodules had an area under the curve of 0.939.
May 22, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This review of over 75,000 patients from a large administrative database found that occlusion of the left atrial appendage during cardiac surgery was associated with a reduced risk of subsequent stroke and all-cause mortality.
May 22, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
A centrifuge made of paper and string and powered by hand can separate plasma from whole blood in 90 seconds and permit the diagnosis of malaria in 15 minuntes at the point of care. The centrifuge generates speeds of 125,000 rpm, with a theoretical maximum of 1,000,000 rpm. Such devices may become the centerpiece of diagnostic assays in the developing world in the future.
May 22, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
An interesting, informative, and timely consensus statement on mitochondrial dysfunction in heart failure and how to potentially target these abnormalities therapeutically.
May 21, 2018
Submitted by: Claire Vernon
d’Udekem and colleagues discuss aortic valve surgery in infants and neonates. The authors highlight issues such as considerations and strategies, the role of associated intracardiac and extracardiac lesions, how to deal with iatrogenic lesions following interventional catheter or surgical procedures, and techniques and limitations of aortic valve repair.
May 20, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
A landmark article summarizing the early clinical experience of using a cryopreserved aortic homograft with a customized internal stent for major airway replacement.
May 19, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
Enhanced recovery programs are very popular now, but their benefits have been mostly theoretical. This article describes challenges and outcomes after initiation of such a program, citing decreased costs, lower opioid usage, and shortened length of stay.
May 19, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Ferguson
This overview of some recent social science flavored research identifies challenges associated with stigma attached to a lung cancer diagnosis. These challenges include decreased participation in screening tests, noncompliance with therapy, and poor communication with treating physicians.