Single-institution Prospective Study Research Articles

Time-course for acquiring transfer independence in patients with subacute stroke: a prospective cohort study.

To clarify the time-course of longitudinal changes in the independence level of subtasks composing bed-wheelchair transfer among patients with stroke. Single-institution prospective cohort study. A total of 137 consecutive post-stroke patients using wheelchair on admission to the subacute rehabilitation wards. The independence degree in each of the 25transfer-related subtasks was assessed using the Bed-Wheelchair Transfer Tasks Assessment Form on a three-level scale every two weeks, from admission to the endpoint (either discharge or when achieving independent transfer). Patients were classified based on admission and endpoint assessment form scores using two-step cluster analysis. Patients were classified into three clusters. The first cluster included 50 patients who exhibited a greater independence level in all subtasks on admission (52.0-100% of patients performed each subtask independently) and at the endpoint (64.0-100%). The second included 30 patients who showed less independence on admission (0-27.8%) but achieved greater independence levels at the endpoint (44.4-97.2%). The third included 51 patients whose independence level remained low in many subtasks from admission (0-5.8%) until the endpoint (0-29.4%). The independence level and its changing process during transfer were categorized into three time-courses, each requiring different intervention strategies.

Improvement in thyroid-specific quality of life following radiofrequency ablation of benign thyroid nodules: A USA study

BackgroundRadiofrequency ablation is an effective minimally invasive technique for benign thyroid nodules, with European and Asian studies reporting improved quality of life following treatment. We aimed to assess the thyroid-related quality of life of patients with benign thyroid nodules treated with radiofrequency ablation in the United States. MethodsThis is a prospective single-institution study of patients treated with radiofrequency ablation over a 4-year period. Nodule characteristics and Thyroid-Related Patient-Reported Outcome (ThyPRO)-39 scores were assessed at baseline, 3 months post-procedure, and last follow-up (range: 3–12 months). Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess differences in scores before and after radiofrequency ablation with standardized effect size analysis. ResultsA total of 56 patients with 76 nodules were treated. The median volume reduction ratio at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months was 44.9% (interquartile range: 27.3–57.3), 65.2% (53.5–73.1), 69.7% (63.5–81.9), and 79.6% (66.2–88.9), respectively. At 3-month follow-up, significant improvement (P < .05) was observed for goiter symptoms (28.9 vs 10.8), anxiety (30.7 vs 19.3), and appearance (29.9 vs 10.8). At last follow-up, significant improvement (P < .05) was observed for goiter symptoms (28.9 vs 8.9), anxiety (30.7 vs 22.3), appearance (29.9 vs 10.8), and overall quality of life (30.3 vs 11.1). Effect sizes were moderate for appearance (standardized effect size 0.5–0.8) at last follow-up. ConclusionIn the largest US study to date assessing quality of life following radiofrequency ablation, we observed an expected volume reduction ratio and improvements in thyroid-specific quality of life, particularly in the goiter, anxiety, and appearance domains.

Impact of SPY Fluorescence Angiography on Incidence of Ureteroenteric Stricture After Urinary Diversion.

Ureteroenteric strictures (UESs) are a common and morbid complication of radical cystectomy and urinary diversions. UES occurs in 4% to 25% of all patients undergoing urinary diversion, and anastomotic ischemia is implicated in stricture formation. SPY fluorescence angiography is a technology that can be employed during open surgery that allows for evaluation of ureteral perfusion. We performed a prospective single-institution study of intraoperative use of SPY for ureteral assessment with a primary outcome of UES incidence compared with a cohort of historic controls prior to the use of SPY during urinary diversion at our institution. Chart abstraction was conducted to determine the presence of confirmed stricture in these patients, defined as endoscopic diagnosis or definitive imaging findings. Statistical analysis was performed using χ2 test for UES incidence. Demographics characteristics were analyzed with Wilcoxon rank sum test and χ2 test. A total of 332 patients underwent urinary diversion during the study period. UES occurred in 31 of 277 patients (11.1%) in the control group compared with 1 of 55 patients (1.8%) enrolled in the SPY arm (P = .03). The per-ureter UES rate was 6.7% (33/582) in the control group compared with 0.9% (1/107) in the SPY group. Median follow-up in the SPY group was 17.5 months and 58.6 months in the control group. Median Charlson Comorbidity Index was 5 in the SPY group and 4 in the control group. There were no other significant demographic differences between the study groups. SPY fluorescent angiography can be used during open urinary diversion to ensure perfusion to ureteroenteric anastomosis. Our single-institution study demonstrates a decreased incidence of UES when ureteral perfusion assessment is performed. NCT05022199.

Safety and efficacy of ultrasound-assisted bedside ureteric stent placement A prospective, single-institution study.

Previous studies have demonstrated the feasibility of bedside placement of ureteric stents; however, they have traditionally required two skilled operators and were associated with some stent malposition especially for proximal ureteric obstruction. We sought to investigate the efficacy and safety of a modified technique for ultrasound-assisted bedside ureteric stent insertion without the presence of a skilled assist. A single institution prospective study was performed from April-August 2023. Indications for stenting included infection, renal insufficiency, or intractable colic. Exclusion criteria included age <18 years, hemodynamic instability, and patients with history of chronic pain. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) was used to confirm wire placement in the kidney and presence of a hydronephrotic drip from a 5 French ureteric catheter was used to confirm placement beyond the level of obstruction. Of 28 patients, all patients underwent successful bedside ureteric stent placement. Mean age was 64.9 years and mean body mass index (BMI) was 33.2. Proximal ureter obstruction was present in 52% of patients and mid/distal obstruction in 48%. In cases with obstructing stones, the mean stone size was 8.1 mm with a range of 4-15 mm. Infection was the indication for stent placement in most patients (71%), followed by pain (4%) and acute kidney injury (AKI) (4%). All patients who underwent successful stent placement had presence of hydronephrotic drip from the ureteric catheter. Ultrasound-assisted bedside ureteric stent insertion without a skilled assist is a safe and feasible option for management of acute ureteral obstruction. Presence of hydronephrotic drip can indicate successful access beyond the level of obstruction as an alternative to POCUS.

Using microfluidic shear to assess transfusion requirements in trauma patients

BackgroundViscoelastic assays have widely been used for evaluating coagulopathies but lack the addition of shear stress important to in vivo clot formation. Stasys technology subjects whole blood to shear forces...

Perioperative Outcomes After Bioprosthetic Valve Replacement in Patients Sensitized to Alpha-gal

BackgroundAlpha-gal syndrome from tick bites, due to sensitivity to alpha-gal, can cause severe allergies. Heart valve implants contain alpha-gal, yet alpha-gal syndrome screening is not standard before valve replacement. This study examines perioperative outcomes in patients with alpha-gal antibodies. MethodsThis is a single-institution prospective cohort study of patients undergoing bioprosthetic aortic valve replacement between January 2022 and January 2023. Anti-alpha-gal immunoglobulin E levels were measured, with primary outcomes being severe allergic reactions and in-hospital mortality, and secondary outcomes including intensive care unit and hospital stay. ResultsOf 155 patients, 32.7% (n = 19) of surgical aortic valve replacement and 29.9% (n = 29) of transcatheter aortic valve replacement patients had detectable immunoglobulin E levels without subsequent serious allergic reactions or in-hospital mortality. Postoperative hospital stay and valve function were similar across groups. ConclusionsIn this study, sensitization to alpha-gal was not associated with serious allergic reactions and did not affect immediate aortic valve function after surgical aortic valve replacement or transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Germline Pathogenic Variants Identified in Patients With Genitourinary Malignancies Undergoing Universal Testing: A Multisite Single-Institution Prospective Study.

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of pathogenic germline variants (PGVs) in hereditary cancer genes utilizing a universal testing approach and to determine the rate of PGVs that would have been missed based on National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines in genitourinary (GU) malignancies. A multisite, single-institution prospective germline genetic test (GGT) was universally offered to patients with new or active diagnoses of GU malignancies (prostate, bladder, and renal) from April 2018 to March 2020 at Mayo Clinic sites. Participants were offered GGT using a next-generation sequencing panel of > 80 genes. Demographic, tumor characteristics, and genetic results were evaluated. NCCN GU cancer guidelines were used to identify whether patients had incremental findings, defined as PGV-positive patients who would not have received testing based on NCCN guidelines. Of 3095 individuals enrolled in the study, 601 patients had GU cancer (prostate = 358, bladder = 106, and renal = 137). The mean enrollment age was 67 years (SD 9.1), 89% were male, and 86% of patients were non-Hispanic White. PGVs were identified in 82 (14%) of all GU patients. PGV prevalence breakdown by cancer type was: 14% prostate, 14% bladder, and 13% renal cancer. Nearly one-third of identified PGVs were high penetrance, and the majority of these (67%) were clinically actionable. Incremental PGVs were identified in 28 (57%) prostate, 15 (100%) bladder, and 14 (78%) renal cancer patients. Of the 82 patients with PGV findings, 29 (35%) had at least 1 relative undergo cascade testing for the familial variant(s) identified. More than 1 in 8 patients with GU malignancies were found to carry a PGV, with 67% of patients with high-penetrance PGVs undergoing clinically actionable changes. The majority of these PGVs would not have been identified based on current testing criteria. These findings support universal GGT for GU malignancies and underscore its potential to enhance risk assessment and guide precision interventions in urologic oncology.

The impact of the radiology career on family planning: A survey of practicing radiologists and trainees

PurposeAs the field of medicine witnesses evolving attitudes towards work-life balance, barriers to family planning emerge as an important theme. Though these challenges have been investigated in many fields, there has been little work done on this subject within radiology. Here we present the first formal survey of radiologists on topics related to family planning. Materials and methodsIn this single-institution prospective study, a 40-question comprehensive survey was developed and distributed via email. Responses from 76 participants were analyzed. ResultsOf the 76 respondents, a diverse number of ages, points in the career path, and practice settings were represented. A majority of respondents were male (52/76; 68 %) and married (56/75; 73.7 %). Respondents reported a miscarriage rate of 25 %, which is slightly higher than the reported rate for the general population of 20 %. Significantly more female respondents reported a negative stigma associated with being pregnant as a radiologist as compared to their male colleagues (60.9 % vs. 15.4 %; p < 0.001)). Male respondents reported significantly less parental leave than their female colleagues, most commonly reporting zero weeks of leave as compared to 10 weeks for female respondents (p < 0.001). Numerous respondents cited lack of childcare support as a major issue. ConclusionWe have identified several key areas of concern, including a need for improving parental leave policies, addressing pregnancy stigma, and increasing access to childcare support. Overall, our study lays the groundwork for discussions and policy changes within radiology at both the institutional and national level to ensure the continued interest of trainees and satisfaction of radiologists.

Ultrasound Morphology of Presumed Normal Anal Sacs in Dogs and Cats.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of canine and feline anal sacs is a practical promising modality to identify anal sac disease. However, limited data are available about normal ultrasound morphology of the anal sacs. This study describes the ultrasound morphology of presumed normal anal sacs in a larger sample of client-owned dogs and cats. A single-institutional prospective cross-sectional descriptive study was performed, and 137 dogs and 131 cats were included. The most common ultrasound features of the evaluated anal sacs in the dorsal plane were oval shape (99.3% of dogs and 98.5% of cats) and bilaterally similar content (94.2% of dogs and 95.4% of cats), mostly hypoechoic with diffusely hyperechoic points or unformed echogenic material (42.6% of dogs and 44% of cats). Gas in the lumen of the anal sac was detected in two dogs and mineralization in one dog. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between body weight and the size of anal sacs in dogs ≤15 kg and cats and a correlation between age and the size of anal sacs in cats. This simple method provides additional clinically significant information in detecting abnormal findings in asymptomatic patients and could contribute to the early detection of anal sac disease.

Feasibility and safety of neoadjuvant nivolumab and chemotherapy for resectable diffuse pleural mesotheliomas: Results of a prospective pilot study.

8003 Background: Diffuse pleural mesotheliomas (DPM) are an aggressive malignancy where even patients with potentially resectable disease have poor outcomes. With an evolving understanding of the role of pleurectomy/decortication (P/D) as the standard of care for resectable disease, the need to improve upfront therapies is more urgent. Here we report the results of our single institution prospective pilot study of nivolumab with platinum (cisplatin/carboplatin) and pemetrexed prior to P/D for patients with resectable DPM (NCT04162015). Methods: Patients deemed operable and resectable by a multidisciplinary team received 2 cycles of neoadjuvant nivolumab, pemetrexed, and platinum followed by P/D. Subsequent therapy was at the physician's discretion. Using a minimax Simon two-stage design, the primary objective was defined as attempted P/D within 30 days of the planned surgery date. Secondary objectives included evaluating safety, overall survival (OS) from diagnosis, and progression free survival (PFS). Tumor tissue and plasma were collected for exploratory analyses such as immune cell profiling and pathologic response. Using single cell RNA sequencing (scRNAseq), we explored DPM transcriptional heterogeneity and treatment-associated tumor microenvironment (TME) changes. Results: 22 patients received neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy and 19 underwent attempted P/D (2 progressed and 1 declined surgery). 68% were men (13/19), 89% were epithelioid (17/19; remaining 2 were biphasic), and the median age at diagnosis was 72 (range: 33-80). No patient experienced pre-operative toxicity precluding P/D. 95% (18/19) of patients underwent P/D within 30 days of the planned date; 1 patient had biopsy-proven tumor flare after cycle 2 and had surgery at day +37. As of January 2024, median OS for the 19 patients that went for attempted P/D was 41.0 mos (median follow up: 25.3mos). OS for those who underwent R1 resections (n = 12) was not reached and for R2 (n = 7) was 31.4 mos (p = 0.67; HR 1.43, 95% CI 0.28-7.30). 26% of specimens (5/19) had ≤ 10% viable tumor cells on the resection; there was no clear correlation with outcomes. scRNAseq was performed on 15 resection specimens with available material. Comparing patients with PFS greater than or less than 12mos (PFS12), we found significantly increased abundance of CD8 cytotoxic T cells, and ISG+ (interferon stimulated) T cells. Conclusions: Neoadjuvant platinum, pemetrexed, and nivolumab was reliably able to be given to patients with DPM without impacting their ability to undergo P/D. The encouraging OS of this cohort to date, and tolerance of the regimen, highlights the importance of patient selection and preoperative treatments when considering P/D. Ongoing exploratory analyses will profile the cellular and transcriptional landscape of DPM and identify correlates of response to neoadjuvant chemo-immunotherapy. Clinical trial information: NCT04162015 .

Survival outcomes of patients with recurrent and/or metastatic (R/M) head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) treated with platinum-based chemotherapy plus paclitaxel after anti-PD-1 monotherapy.

e18010 Background: There have been reports of higher than expected objective response rate (ORR) to platinum-based combinations following immunotherapy failure in a number of metastatic solid and hematological malignancies. In light of these intriguing results and the fact that the optimal second line regimen for R/M HNSCC after immunotherapy remains unclear, we conducted a prospective cohort study of patients with R/M HNSCC treated with platinum-based chemotherapy plus paclitaxel after anti-PD-1 monotherapy to investigate survival outcomes. Methods: This is a single institutional prospective cohort study which has a total of 12 patients with R/M HNSCC. Within 2 weeks after confirmation of progression from anti-PD-1 monotherapy (pembrolizumab or nivolumab), platinum-based chemotherapy (cisplatin 80mg/m2 or carboplatin AUC=5) plus paclitaxel 175mg/m2 every 21 day cycle were initiated and continued for a total of 3-9 cycles. The best overall response (BOR) was assessed by RECIST v1.1. ORR was determined based on binomial distribution theory and Wilson’s method. Progressive-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. The association between ORR and HPV status, PD-L1 score were determined by the chi-square test. Blood samples were collected prior to the start of chemotherapy and also at the time of restaging scans (every 3 cycles of chemotherapy) for RNA sequencing. Results: Patients were treated from May 2021 to June 2023. There were 10 men and 2 women, median age of 63 years (range, 51-73) and ECOG 0-1. Oropharynx (9, 75%) was the most common primary site (oral cavity: 1, larynx: 1). Eleven (92%) had distant metastatic disease. 45% of patients (5 out of 11) had PD-L1 CPS &lt;50. 58% of patients (7 out of 12) had HPV positive HNSCC. The median follow up of the study was 15.6 (range: 4.9-23.9) months. The ORR was 75% with 95% CI: 0.47- 0.91. The median OS was 17.9 months and median PFS was 6.74 months. The median OS for PDL1 &gt;= 50 is longer than 23.9 months vs 15 months in patients with PD-L1 CPS &lt;50. Compared to HPV negative patients, HPV positive patients had a superior median PFS (8.75 vs 3.9 months, p= 0.069). The ORR by HPV status was higher in HPV positive than HPV negative patients (85.7% vs 60%, p=0.311), and the ORR by PDL1 score was higher in PDL1 ≥ 50 than PDL1 &lt;50 (100% vs 66.7%, p=0.154), but neither ORR by HPV status nor PDL1 was significant. Conclusions: Platinum-based chemotherapy plus paclitaxel after anti-PD-1 monotherapy showed dramatically higher ORR and more favorable median OS compared to the historical data from the pre-anti PD-1 era (ORR: 75% vs 26%, median OS: 17.9 vs 8.1 months), which warrants a larger prospective study for validation. Our ongoing analysis of RNA sequencing may reveal mechanism for immunotherapy induced chemosensitization effect.

Study of late toxicity biomarkers of locally advanced head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy plus cisplatin or cetuximab points to the relevance of skin macrophages (TOX-TTCC-2015-01).

Radiotherapy (RT) with concomitant cisplatin (CRT) or cetuximab (ERT) are accepted treatment options for locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (LA-SCCHN). Long-term adverse events (AEs) have a vast impact on patients' quality of life. This study explored tissue biomarkers which could help predict late toxicity. Single-institution prospective study including patients aged ≥ 18 with histologically confirmed newly diagnosed LA-SCCHN treated with RT and either concomitant cisplatin q3w or weekly cetuximab, according to institutional protocols. All patients underwent pre- and post-treatment skin biopsies of neck regions included in the clinical target volume. Angiogenesis, macrophages, and extracellular matrix (ECM) markers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC). From April 15, 2016, to December 11, 2017; 31 patients were evaluated [CRT = 12 (38.7%) and ERT = 19 (61.3%)]. 27 patients (87%) had received induction chemotherapy. All patients finished RT as planned. IHC expression of vasculature (CD34) and collagen (Masson's Trichrome) did not differ significantly between and within CRT and ERT arms. Conversely, an increased CD68 and CD163 macrophage infiltration expression was observed after treatment, without significant impact of treatment modality. Patients with higher late toxicity showed lower expression of macrophage markers in pre-treatment samples compared with those with lower late toxicity, with statistically significant differences for CD68. Angiogenesis and ECM biomarkers did not differ significantly between CRT and ERT. Macrophage markers increased after both treatments and deserve further investigation as predictors of late toxicity in LA-SCCHN patients. [Protocol code: TOX-TTCC-2015-01/Spanish registry of clinical studies (REec): 2015-003012-21/Date of registration: 27/01/2016].

Abstract PO1-20-01: A Prospective Single-Arm Pilot Interventional Trial to Assess Individual Breast Cancer Risk Prior to Gender-Affirming Chest Masculinization Surgery

Abstract Background: The number of individuals who identify as transgender and/or gender-diverse (TGD) is steadily increasing and the number of individuals seeking chest masculinization surgery, commonly called “top-surgery,” is also increasing. In persons assigned female at birth, top surgery removes most breast tissue to allow the chest to appear masculine. However, top surgery is not equivalent to oncologic risk-reducing mastectomies (RRM), which aim to remove all breast tissue to reduce future breast cancer (BC) risk. While top surgery has significant psychological and health benefits, its impact on future BC risk is unclear, especially for those individuals who are at high-risk for future BC development (defined as ≥17% by international consensus guidelines) and/or have a pathogenic germline mutation for BC. The aims of this study are to 1) determine the percentage of TGD persons assigned female at birth who are considering undergoing top surgery and are at elevated BC risk using validated risk models, 2) determine the percentage of TGD persons at elevated BC risk who choose to undergo RRM as part of top surgery, and 3) assess and compare self-perceived BC risk compared to calculated risk. Methods: A single-institution prospective single-arm pilot study is currently underway from March 2023 through January 2024. Individuals assigned female at birth, who are age ≥18 years, and considering undergoing top surgery, but have not yet undergone top surgery, are eligible to enroll (goal accrual N=35). Participants are being actively recruited form our institution’s Comprehensive LGBTQIA+ Inclusion Health Clinic and Plastic Surgery Clinic. Consented participants undergo a personalized BC risk assessment the validated IBIS and Gail (for those ≥35 years old) BC risk models. Those with an average lifetime BC risk (&amp;lt; 17%) are recommended to continue top surgery as planned/no intervention, participants with a moderate lifetime BC risk (17-30%) are counseled they may consider RRM as part of their top surgery operation given that sparse data exists in this space, while those with a high lifetime BC risk ( &amp;gt;30% or pathogenic germline variant) are counseled on the potential benefits of RRM. Participants with a family history suggestive of a hereditary cancer syndrome meet with a certified Genetics counselor for consideration of genetic testing, per NCCN guidelines. Results: We anticipate reporting 1) general demographic description of the cohort, 2) the percentage who have an elevated lifetime BC risk and/or a pathogenic genetic mutation, 3) the percentage of those with an elevated risk who choose to undergo RRM as part of top surgery, and 4) report the differences between self-perceived vs calculated lifetime BC risk. Conclusion: Our findings will inform TGD persons and surgeons on the utility of a personalized BC risk assessment prior to top surgery to assist in surgical decision-making, report the accuracy of self-perceived BC risk in TGD persons, and potentially change the standard pre-operative evaluation for TGD persons considering top surgery to include a formal BC risk assessment to ensure high-risk individuals have the option to undergo RRM to appropriately reduce their future BC risk. Citation Format: Chandler Cortina, Anna Purdy, Samantha Stachowiak, Kristen Klement, Sarah Sasor, Kate Krucoff, Andrew Petroll, Kevin Robertson, Annie Lakatos, Erin Doren. A Prospective Single-Arm Pilot Interventional Trial to Assess Individual Breast Cancer Risk Prior to Gender-Affirming Chest Masculinization Surgery [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO1-20-01.

Streamlining the Management of Children With Simple Hand Injuries

Background: Hand injuries are common in children. Most simple pediatric hand fractures do not require surgery and can be treated with protective immobilization, yielding good outcomes. A recent institutional audit revealed significant practice variation in managing these children with many being overtreated with unnecessary follow-up visits. The objective of this study was to implement and assess a streamlined care pathway to manage “simple” pediatric hand injuries and minimize healthcare utilization. Methods: A single institution prospective study of the streamlined care pathway was conducted. Simple hand injuries included volar plate injuries, phalangeal Salter-Harris type 2 fractures, metacarpal neck fractures, unicortical and buckle fractures, proximal interphalangeal dislocations, and thumb ligamentous injuries. Patients were treated with either thermoplastic splinting or buddy taping. Standardized verbal and written instruction were provided. No routine follow-up was arranged. Participants were contacted by telephone 6 weeks post-injury to identify any concerns or need for follow-up. Results: A total of 101 children with simple hand injuries were included. Sixty-one participants completed the telephone survey. About 90% had no problems during healing and 85% resumed all activities. Ten participants requested follow-up; however, 4 cancelled and the remaining 6 required reassurance with no additional treatment. Conclusions: Most simple pediatric hand injuries heal well with buddy taping or splint immobilization. The described streamlined hand pathway can avoid unnecessary follow-ups for simple pediatric hand trauma, reducing the burden on both families and the healthcare system.

The Impact of Single-Use Cystoscopes on Clinical Time Workflow in an Outpatient Setting

ObjectiveTo evaluate the change in overall clinical encounter time and clinical capacity after transitioning to single-use cystoscopes (Ambu A/S, Ballerup, Denmark) in an outpatient urology setting. MethodsA single-institution prospective study in an outpatient urology procedure clinic was performed. Discrete categories for each portion of nursing care responsibilities were defined, and time spent during each category was recorded. Two separate clinic days were observed and analyzed: one where the clinic exclusively used reusable cystoscopes and the other after the transition to single-use cystoscopes occurred. Additionally, clinic schedules were reviewed from all procedure clinics in the 3-month periods before and after the transition to single-use cystoscopes. Outcomes included overall clinical encounter time and the number of procedures per clinic day. ResultsThere were 12 flexible cystoscopies performed during each of the observed clinic days. Preliminary cystoscope cleaning and transportation tasks by nursing staff were eliminated when utilizing single-use cystoscopes. Average total encounter time decreased from 66 to 44 minutes, resulting in a 34% reduction in clinical encounter time. The median number of flexible cystoscopy procedures increased after the transition from 9 (IQR 7-12) to 16 (IQR 11-17), representing a 78% increase (p=0.003). ConclusionsTransition to a completely single-use cystoscopy outpatient procedure clinic improved clinical efficiency and facilitated an increased number of procedures per clinic day.

21 Gy single fraction prostate HDR brachytherapy: 5-year results of a single institution prospective pilot study

PURPOSETo present the outcome and toxicity results of a prospective trial of 21 Gy single fraction high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy for men with low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALSPatients were treated according to an IRB-approved prospective study of single fraction HDR brachytherapy. Eligible patients had low- or intermediate-risk prostate cancer with tumor stage ≤ T2b, PSA ≤ 15, and Gleason score ≤ 7. Patients underwent trans-rectal ultrasound-guided trans-perineal implant of the prostate followed by single fraction HDR brachytherapy to a dose of 21 Gy. The primary endpoint was grade ≥ 2 urinary/GI toxicity rates. RESULTSTwenty-six patients were enrolled with a median follow up of 5.1 years and median age of 64 years. 88.5% of patients had T1 disease, 15.4% had Gleason score 6 (84.6% Gleason 7), and median pre-treatment PSA was 5.0 ng/mL. Acute and chronic grade ≥ 2 urinary toxicity rates were 38.5% and 38.5%, respectively. There were no grade ≥ 2 acute or chronic GI toxicities. Six (23.1%) patients experienced biochemical failure, six (23.1%) patients experienced radiographic local failure, and five (19.2%) patients had biopsy-proven local failure. No patients developed regional lymph node recurrence or distant metastasis. 5-year overall survival and cause-specific survival were 96.2% and 100%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS21 Gy single fraction HDR brachytherapy was associated with modestly higher-than-anticipated chronic urinary toxicity, as well as high biochemical and local failure rates. The results from this prospective pilot study do not support the use of this regimen in standard clinical practice.

Microstructural abnormality of white matter tracts in rheumatoid arthritis

BackgroundStructural and functional brain imaging studies have reported abnormalities of gray matter morphology and functional activities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, it is largely unknown whether patients with RA show alterations of white matter microstructural organization. ObjectivesTo automatically identify alteration of white matter microstructure in patients with RA and further examine how this alteration associates with clinical characteristics. MethodsThis single-institutional prospective study included 66 participants (33 patients with RA [52 ± 9 years, 29 women] and 33 sex/age-matched healthy controls [53 ± 12 years, 27 women]), who underwent diffusion MRI scan from January 2021 to December 2021. The white matter microstructure was assessed using fractional anisotropy, mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity. Voxelwise analyses were conducted on white matter skeleton using an automated, observer-independent tract-based spatial statistics analysis. The relationship between white matter microstructural alterations and clinical and neuropsychological variables was evaluated using correlation analysis. ResultsCompared with healthy controls, patients with RA exhibited lower fractional anisotropy in several major white matter tracts (threshold-free cluster enhancement at P < 0.05 for multiple comparison correction, permutation test), involving the forceps minor, bilateral inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus, bilateral anterior thalamic radiation, and bilateral uncinate fasciculus. Lower fractional anisotropy values in the patients with RA were significantly associated with pain-related assessments, including tender joint count (r = -0.43, P = 0.015), Clinical Disease Activity Index score (r = -0.36, P = 0.049), pain severity rated through visual analogue scale (r = -0.45, P = 0.012), and Simplified Disease Activity Index score (r = -0.36, P = 0.045). No significant group difference was found in mean diffusivity, axial diffusivity, and radial diffusivity. ConclusionsWe report the first anatomical evidence for aberrant microstructure organization of several major white matter tracts and its associations with pain processing in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Comparison of Low-Dose Computed Tomography Versus Conventional-Dose Computed Tomography in the Evaluation of Distal Radius Fractures.

Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are common upper extremity fractures and often require surgical fixation when they are intraarticular. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) has emerged as a surgical planning tool to evaluate intraarticular DRFs. Although CT affords additional details, patients receive higher radiation doses than standard radiographs. We aim to develop a low-dose CT (LDCT) protocol, relative to the institutional standard-dose CT wrist for intraarticular DRFs although providing adequate detail for surgical decision-making. A single-institution prospective study was conducted on patients with intraarticular DRFs who underwent closed reduction and below-elbow splinting who otherwise would undergo wrist CT. Observations were defined as total measurements taken, with each view undergoing 44 measurements. Patients underwent 2 scans with a standard dose and a 10× dose reduction. Articular step and gap measurements were recorded in the sagittal and coronal images. A total of 11 patients were enrolled (7 women and 4 men). The mean age was 55 years (SD = 20.1). There were a total of 4 reviewers: 1 attending surgeon, 2 resident physicians, and 1 student. When comparing LDCT and conventional-dose CT (CDCT), there were no significant differences in step and gap measurements across all reviewers. This study demonstrated that LDCT provides comparable imaging quality for surgical planning as a CDCT without significant diagnostic decay in the setting of DRFs. This comes with the added benefit of a 10-fold reduction in radiation exposure. These results suggest that LDCT is an opportunity to reduce effective radiation in patients although providing beneficial preoperative imaging.

Telemedicine for Multidisciplinary Urologic Cancer Care: A Prospective Single Institution Study

BackgroundWe rapidly implemented a telemedicine Multidisciplinary Urologic Cancer Clinic (MDUCC) at the University of Washington/Seattle Cancer Care Alliance during the peak of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency to maintain our ability to provide multidisciplinary cancer care. We report our experiences though assessment of patient-reported outcomes from our telemedicine MDUCC. MethodsVideo visits with a urologic oncologist, medical oncologist, and radiation oncologist were conducted in the same format as our in-person MDUCC. We prospectively collected patient demographic and clinical data. Patients were invited to complete a post-visit survey that assessed satisfaction, provider trust, travel time, and costs of the telemedicine visit. We estimated travel distances and times from each patient's home to our clinic. ResultsAmong invited patients, twenty-four patients completed a survey after their telemedicine MDUCC visit. Twenty patients (83%) were at home during the visit. Most (85%) were men, Caucasian (79%), and were being seen in our Bladder Cancer MDUCC (83%). All twenty-four patients responded that they would be willing to have future appointments via telemedicine; eighteen patients (75%) strongly agreed that the encounter was high quality; 19 patients strongly agreed that they were satisfied with their visit. Patients saved an estimated average one-way travel distance of 145 miles and one-way travel time of 179 minutes to convene a telemedicine visit. ConclusionsTelemedicine MDUCCs are feasible and effective in providing access to multidisciplinary urologic cancer care. Patient satisfaction was high, and many patients were spared a substantial travel burden. Telemedicine may continue to be leveraged to improve access to multidisciplinary urologic cancer care.

LINAC-based SBRT in treating early-stage NSCLC patients-single institution experience and survival data analysis.

Aim: This single institute prospective study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of LINAC-based stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) in treating patients with early-stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSLSC). We focused on the survival data with the local and distant control profiles and the cancer- and non-cancer-specific survival. Treatment-related side effects were also collected and analyzed. Methods: Patients with early-stage NSCLC between January 2018 and October 2021 were included in our prospective study; a total of 77 patients receiving LINAC-based SBRT were analyzed. All patients had pretreatment multidisciplinary tumor board decisions on SBRT. The average patient age was 68.8years (median: 70years, range: 52-82); 70 patients were in ECOG 0 status (91%), while seven patients were in ECOG 1-2 status (9%). 52% of the patients (40) had histologically verified NSCLC, and the other 48% were verified based on PETCT results. We applied the SBRT scheme 8 x 7.5 Gy for central tumors (74%) or 4 x 12 Gy for peripheral tumors (26%). Results: The mean follow-up time was 25.4months (median 23, range 18-50). The Kaplan-Meier estimation for overall survival in patients receiving LINAC-based SBRT was 41.67months. Of the 77 patients treated by SBRT, death was reported for 17 patients (9 cases cancer-specific, 8 cases non-cancer specific reason). The mean local tumor control was 34.25months (range 8.4-41), and the mean systemic control was 24.24months (range 7-25). During the treatments, no Grade I-II were reported; in 30 cases, Grade I non-symptomatic treatment-related lung fibrosis and two asymptomatic rib fractures were reported. Conclusion: In the treatment of early-stage NSCLC, LINAC-based SBRT can be a feasible alternative to surgery. Although we reported worse OS data in our patient cohort compared to the literature, the higher older average age and the initial worse general condition (ECOG1-2) in our patient cohort appear to be the reason for this difference. With the comparable local control and survival data and the favorable side effect profile, SBRT might be preferable over surgery in selected cases.