Objective:The objective of this analysis is to describe the characteristics and morbidity during hospitalizations among adolescents with congenital heart disease(AdoCHD)from the Pediatric Health Information System(PHI...Objective:The objective of this analysis is to describe the characteristics and morbidity during hospitalizations among adolescents with congenital heart disease(AdoCHD)from the Pediatric Health Information System(PHIS)database.Methods:The PHIS database was queried for all AdoCHD admissions aged 12–18 years(1/1/2004–12/31/2013).Major forms of CHD were identified by their International Classification of Diseases,ninth revision codes,further verified based on their secondary diagnosis and/or procedure codes.Patient characteristics,diagnoses,procedures and vital status were assessed.Results:In total,there were 4,267 adolescents admitted to 42 Children’s Hospitals,58.3%were males,24.6%single ventricle(SV)patients,64.1%bi-ventricle(BV),and 11.3%could not be classified.They accounted for 8,512 hospitalizations(41,240 total hospital days),of which 31.6%were intensive care unit(ICU)stays.ICU stay was similar for the SVand BV patients with similar duration of mechanical ventilation between the two groups.Overall,the most common CHD among in-patients was tetralogy of Fallot(TOF,36.4%).Larger proportion of the BVAdoCHD admissions were for elective surgical and electrophysiological procedures.There were 109(2.5%)heart transplantations(1.3%SV vs.0.6%BV)and 120 in-hospital deaths(2.8%)(1.1%SV vs.1.3%BV).Hypoplastic left heart syndrome was the most common diagnosis in transplanted patients(46%)and those who died(28%);TOF(29%)was frequent in 91(2.1%)patients who had cardiac arrests.Conclusions:Different hospitalization patterns exist for BV and SV AdoCHD.Recognizing this risk may encourage directing resources toward optimizing long-term care of CHD patients.展开更多
BACKGROUND Despite advances in detection and treatments,biliary tract cancers continue to have poor survival outcomes.Currently,there is limited data investigating the significance of socioeconomic status,race/ethnici...BACKGROUND Despite advances in detection and treatments,biliary tract cancers continue to have poor survival outcomes.Currently,there is limited data investigating the significance of socioeconomic status,race/ethnicity,and environmental factors in biliary tract cancer survival.Data from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database for biliary and gallbladder adenocarcinomas were extracted from 1975 to 2016.Socioe-conomic data included smoking,poverty level,education,adjusted household income,and percentage of foreign-born persons and urban population.Survival was calculated with Cox proportional hazards models for death in the 5-year period following diagnosis.RESULTS Our study included 15883 gallbladder,11466 intrahepatic biliary,12869 extrahepatic biliary and 7268 ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma cases.When analyzing county-specific demographics,patients from counties with higher incomes were associated with higher survival rates[hazard ratio(HR)=0.97,P<0.05].Similarly,counties with a higher percentage of patients with a college level education and counties with a higher urban population had higher 5-year survival rates(HR=0.96,P=0.002 and HR=0.97,P=0.004,respectively).CONCLUSION Worse survival outcomes were observed in lower income counties while higher income and education level were associated with higher 5-year overall survival among gallbladder and biliary malignancies.展开更多
BACKGROUND Data regarding the worldwide gastrointestinal surgery rates in patients with Crohn’s disease(CD)remains limited.AIM To systematically review the global variation in the rates of surgery in CD.METHODS A com...BACKGROUND Data regarding the worldwide gastrointestinal surgery rates in patients with Crohn’s disease(CD)remains limited.AIM To systematically review the global variation in the rates of surgery in CD.METHODS A comprehensive search analysis was performed using multiple electronic databases from inception through July 1,2020,to identify all full text,randomized controlled trials and cohort studies pertaining to gastrointestinal surgery rates in adult patients with CD.Outcomes included continent based demographic data,CD surgery rates over time,as well as the geoepidemiologic variation in CD surgery rates.Statistical analyses were conducted using R.RESULTS Twenty-three studies spanning four continents were included.The median proportion of persons with CD who underwent gastrointestinal surgery in studies from North America,Europe,Asia,and Oceania were 30%(range:1.7%-62.0%),40%(range:0.6%-74.0%),17%(range:16.0%-43.0%),and 38%respectively.No clear association was found regarding the proportion of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery over time in North America(R^(2)=0.035)and Europe(R^(2)=0.100).A moderate,negative association was seen regarding the proportion of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery over time(R^(2)=0.520)in Asia.CONCLUSION There appears to be significant inter-continental variation regarding surgery rates in CD.Homogenous evidencebased guidelines accounting for the geographic differences in managing patients with CD is prudent.Moreover,as a paucity of data on surgery rates in CD exists outside the North American and European continents,future studies,particularly in less studied locales,are warranted.展开更多
Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a "functional" and reversible form of renal failure that occurs in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. The distinctive hallmark feature of HRS is the intense renal vas...Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a "functional" and reversible form of renal failure that occurs in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. The distinctive hallmark feature of HRS is the intense renal vasoconstriction caused by interactions between systemic and portal hemodynamics. This results in activation of vasoconstrictors and suppression of vasodilators in the renal circulation. Epidemiology, pathophysiology, as well as current and emerging therapies of HRS are discussed in this review.展开更多
Many patients with pancreas cancer present with locally advanced pancreatic cancer(LAPC).The principle tools used for diagnosis and staging of LAPC include endoscopic ultrasound,axial imaging with computed tomography ...Many patients with pancreas cancer present with locally advanced pancreatic cancer(LAPC).The principle tools used for diagnosis and staging of LAPC include endoscopic ultrasound,axial imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging,and diagnostic laparoscopy.The definition of resectability has historically been vague,as there is considerable debate and controversy as to the definition of LAPC.For the patient with LAPC,there is some level of involvement of the surrounding vascular structures,which include the superior mesenteric artery,celiac axis,hepatic artery,superior mesenteric vein,or portal vein.When feasible,most surgeons would recommend possible surgical resection for patients with borderline LAPC,with the goal of an R0 resection.For initially unresectable LAPC,neoadjuvant should be strongly considered.Specifically,these patients should be offered neoadjuvant therapy,and the tumor should be assessed for possible response and eventual resection.The efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy with this approach as a bridge to potential curative resection is broad,ranging from 3%-79%.The different modalities of neoadjuvant therapy include sin-gle or multi-agent chemotherapy combined with radiation,chemotherapy alone,and chemotherapy followed by chemotherapy with radiation.This review focuses on patients with LAPC and addresses recent advances and controversies in the field.展开更多
Intractable bleeding from gastric and duodenal ulcers is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Aggressive treatment with early endoscopic hemostasis is essential for a favourable outcome. In as many as ...Intractable bleeding from gastric and duodenal ulcers is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Aggressive treatment with early endoscopic hemostasis is essential for a favourable outcome. In as many as 12%-17% of patients,endoscopy is either not available or unsuccessful. Endovascular therapy with selective catheterization of the culprit vessel and injection of embolic material has emerged as an alternative to emergent operative intervention in high-risk patients. There has not been a systematic literature review to assess the role for embolotherapy in the treatment of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding from gastroduo-denal ulcers after failed endoscopic hemostasis. Here,we present an overview of indications,techniques,and clinical outcomes after endovascular embolization of acute peptic-ulcer bleeding. Topics of particular relevance to technical and clinical success are also discussed. Our review shows that transcatheter arterial embolization is a safe alternative to surgery for massive gastroduodenal bleeding that is refractory to endoscopic treatment,can be performed with high technical and clinical success rates,and should be considered the salvage treatment of choice in patients at high surgical risk.展开更多
Despite improvements in the multi-modality treatment of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), survival after resection remains varied. Determining prognosis after surgical resection has historically been predicated on p...Despite improvements in the multi-modality treatment of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), survival after resection remains varied. Determining prognosis after surgical resection has historically been predicated on preoperative clinicopathological factors such as primary tumor stage, carcinoembryonic antigen levels, number of liver metastases, presence of extrahepatic disease, as well as other factors. While scoring systems have been developed by combining certain preoperative fac- tors, these have been inconsistent in accurately deter- mining prognosis. There has been increasing interest in the use of biologic and molecular markers to predict prognosis following CRLM. The role of markers such as KRAS, BRAF, p53, human telomerase reverse transcrip- tase, thymidylate synthase, Ki-67, and hypoxia inducible factor-1α and their correlation with accurately predict- ing survival after surgical resection have been sup- ported by several studies. Furthermore, other elements such as pathological response to chemotherapy and the presence of circulating tumor cells have shown promise in accurately determining prognosis after resection for colorectal liver metastasis.We herein review past, present, and possible future markers of prognosis among colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis undergo-ing resection with curative intent.展开更多
We present the results from a patient with relapsing optic neuropathy treated within the Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS). SCOTS is an Institutional Review Board ap- proved clinical trial and has beco...We present the results from a patient with relapsing optic neuropathy treated within the Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS). SCOTS is an Institutional Review Board ap- proved clinical trial and has become the largest ophthalmology stem cell study registered at the National Institutes of Health to date (www.clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT 01920867). SCOTS utilizes autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) for treatment of retinal and optic nerve diseases. Pre-treatment and post-treatment comprehensive eye exams of a 54 year old female patient were performed both at the Florida Study Center, USA and at The Eye Center of Columbus, USA. As a consequence of a relapsing optic neuritis, the patient's previously normal visual acuity decreased to between 20/350 and 20/400 in the right eye and to 20/70 in the left eye. Significant visual field loss developed bilaterally. The patient underwent a right eye vitrectomy with injection of BMSCs into the optic nerve of the right eyeand retrobulbar, subtenon and in- travitreal injection of BMSCs in the left eye. At 15 months after SCOTS treatment, the patient's visual acuity had improved to 20/150 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Bilateral visual fields improved markedly. Both macular thickness and fast retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were maximally improved at 3 and 6 months after SCOTS treatment. The patient also reduced her mycophenylate dose from 1,500 mg per day to 500 mg per day and required no steroid pulse therapy during the 15-month follow up.展开更多
Priapism is defined as a prolonged and persistent erection of the penis without sexual stimulation. This is a poorly understood disease process with little information on the pathophysiology of this erectile disorder....Priapism is defined as a prolonged and persistent erection of the penis without sexual stimulation. This is a poorly understood disease process with little information on the pathophysiology of this erectile disorder. Complications from this disorder are devastating due to the irreversible erectile damage and resultant erectile dysfunction (ED). Stuttering priapism, though relatively rare, affects a high prevalence of men with sickle-cell disease (SCD) and presents a challenging problem with guidelines for treatment lacking or resulting in permanent ED. The mechanisms involved in the development of priapism in this cohort are poorly characterized; therefore, medical management of priapism represents a therapeutic challenge to urologists. Additional research is warranted, so we can effectively target treatments for these patients with prevention as the goal. This review gives an introduction to stuttering priapism and its clinical significance, specifically with regards to the patient with SCD. Additionally, the proposed mechanisms behind its pathophysiology and a summary of the current and future targets for medical management are discussed.展开更多
Erectile dysfunction (ED) commonly results from endothelial dysfunction of the systemic vasculature. Although phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are effective at treating most cases of ED, they must be ta...Erectile dysfunction (ED) commonly results from endothelial dysfunction of the systemic vasculature. Although phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are effective at treating most cases of ED, they must be taken routinely and are ineffectual for a meaningful number of men. In recent years gene and stem cell-based therapies targeted at the penile endothelium have been gaining momentum in preclinical studies. These early studies reveal that gene and stem cell-based therapies may be both enduring and efficacious, and may eventually lead to a cure for ED. The following review will highlight our current understanding of endothelial-specific gene and stem cell-based therapies performed to date in a number of experimental animal models.展开更多
According to the United States census bureau 20% of Americans will be older than 65 years in 2030 and half of them will need an operation- equating to about 36 million older surgical patients. Older adults are prone t...According to the United States census bureau 20% of Americans will be older than 65 years in 2030 and half of them will need an operation- equating to about 36 million older surgical patients. Older adults are prone to complications during gastrointestinal cancer treatment and therefore may need to undergo special pretreatment assessments that incorporate frailty and sarcopenia assessments. A focused, structured literature review on Pub Med and Google Scholar was performed to identify primary research articles, review articles, as well as practice guidelines on frailty and sarcopenia among patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. The initial search identified 450 articles; after eliminating duplicates, reports that did not include surgical patients, case series, as well as case reports, 42 publications on the impact of frailty and/or sarcopenia on outcome of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery were included. Frailty is defined as a clinically recognizable state of increased vulnerability to physiologic stressors resulting from aging. Frailty is associated with a decline in physiologic reserve and function across multiple physiologic systems. Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. Unlike cachexia, which is typically associated with weight loss due to chemotherapy or a general malignancy-related cachexia syndrome, sarcopenia relates to muscle mass rather than simply weight. As such, while weight reflects nutritional status, sarcopenia- the loss of muscle mass- is a more accurate and quantitative global marker of frailty. While chronologic age is an important element in assessing a patient's peri-operative risk, physiologic age is a more important determinant of outcomes. Geriatric assessment tools are important components of the preoperative work-up and can help identify patients who suffer from frailty. Such data are important, as frailty and sarcopenia have repeatedly been demonstrated among the strongest predictors of both short- and longterm outcome following complicated surgical procedures such as esophageal, gastric, colorectal, and hepatopancreatico-biliary resections.展开更多
Congestive heart failure(CHF) is one of the most common reasons for hospitalization in the United States. Despite multiple different beneficial medications for the treatment of chronic CHF, there are no therapies with...Congestive heart failure(CHF) is one of the most common reasons for hospitalization in the United States. Despite multiple different beneficial medications for the treatment of chronic CHF, there are no therapies with a demonstrated mortality benefit in the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure. In fact, studies of inotropes used in this setting have demonstrated more harm than good. Arginine vasopressin has been shown to be up regulated in CHF. When bound to the V1 a and/or V2 receptors, vasopressin causes vasoconstriction, left ventricular remodeling and free water reabsorption. Recently, two drugs have been approved for use that antagonize these receptors. Studies thus far have indicated that these medications, while effective at aquaresis(free water removal), are safe and not associated with increased morbidity such as renal failure and arrhythmias. Both conivaptan and tolvaptan have been approved for the treatment of euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia. We review the results of these studies in patients with heart failure.展开更多
文摘Objective:The objective of this analysis is to describe the characteristics and morbidity during hospitalizations among adolescents with congenital heart disease(AdoCHD)from the Pediatric Health Information System(PHIS)database.Methods:The PHIS database was queried for all AdoCHD admissions aged 12–18 years(1/1/2004–12/31/2013).Major forms of CHD were identified by their International Classification of Diseases,ninth revision codes,further verified based on their secondary diagnosis and/or procedure codes.Patient characteristics,diagnoses,procedures and vital status were assessed.Results:In total,there were 4,267 adolescents admitted to 42 Children’s Hospitals,58.3%were males,24.6%single ventricle(SV)patients,64.1%bi-ventricle(BV),and 11.3%could not be classified.They accounted for 8,512 hospitalizations(41,240 total hospital days),of which 31.6%were intensive care unit(ICU)stays.ICU stay was similar for the SVand BV patients with similar duration of mechanical ventilation between the two groups.Overall,the most common CHD among in-patients was tetralogy of Fallot(TOF,36.4%).Larger proportion of the BVAdoCHD admissions were for elective surgical and electrophysiological procedures.There were 109(2.5%)heart transplantations(1.3%SV vs.0.6%BV)and 120 in-hospital deaths(2.8%)(1.1%SV vs.1.3%BV).Hypoplastic left heart syndrome was the most common diagnosis in transplanted patients(46%)and those who died(28%);TOF(29%)was frequent in 91(2.1%)patients who had cardiac arrests.Conclusions:Different hospitalization patterns exist for BV and SV AdoCHD.Recognizing this risk may encourage directing resources toward optimizing long-term care of CHD patients.
文摘BACKGROUND Despite advances in detection and treatments,biliary tract cancers continue to have poor survival outcomes.Currently,there is limited data investigating the significance of socioeconomic status,race/ethnicity,and environmental factors in biliary tract cancer survival.Data from the Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results database for biliary and gallbladder adenocarcinomas were extracted from 1975 to 2016.Socioe-conomic data included smoking,poverty level,education,adjusted household income,and percentage of foreign-born persons and urban population.Survival was calculated with Cox proportional hazards models for death in the 5-year period following diagnosis.RESULTS Our study included 15883 gallbladder,11466 intrahepatic biliary,12869 extrahepatic biliary and 7268 ampulla of Vater adenocarcinoma cases.When analyzing county-specific demographics,patients from counties with higher incomes were associated with higher survival rates[hazard ratio(HR)=0.97,P<0.05].Similarly,counties with a higher percentage of patients with a college level education and counties with a higher urban population had higher 5-year survival rates(HR=0.96,P=0.002 and HR=0.97,P=0.004,respectively).CONCLUSION Worse survival outcomes were observed in lower income counties while higher income and education level were associated with higher 5-year overall survival among gallbladder and biliary malignancies.
文摘BACKGROUND Data regarding the worldwide gastrointestinal surgery rates in patients with Crohn’s disease(CD)remains limited.AIM To systematically review the global variation in the rates of surgery in CD.METHODS A comprehensive search analysis was performed using multiple electronic databases from inception through July 1,2020,to identify all full text,randomized controlled trials and cohort studies pertaining to gastrointestinal surgery rates in adult patients with CD.Outcomes included continent based demographic data,CD surgery rates over time,as well as the geoepidemiologic variation in CD surgery rates.Statistical analyses were conducted using R.RESULTS Twenty-three studies spanning four continents were included.The median proportion of persons with CD who underwent gastrointestinal surgery in studies from North America,Europe,Asia,and Oceania were 30%(range:1.7%-62.0%),40%(range:0.6%-74.0%),17%(range:16.0%-43.0%),and 38%respectively.No clear association was found regarding the proportion of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery over time in North America(R^(2)=0.035)and Europe(R^(2)=0.100).A moderate,negative association was seen regarding the proportion of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery over time(R^(2)=0.520)in Asia.CONCLUSION There appears to be significant inter-continental variation regarding surgery rates in CD.Homogenous evidencebased guidelines accounting for the geographic differences in managing patients with CD is prudent.Moreover,as a paucity of data on surgery rates in CD exists outside the North American and European continents,future studies,particularly in less studied locales,are warranted.
文摘Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a "functional" and reversible form of renal failure that occurs in patients with advanced chronic liver disease. The distinctive hallmark feature of HRS is the intense renal vasoconstriction caused by interactions between systemic and portal hemodynamics. This results in activation of vasoconstrictors and suppression of vasodilators in the renal circulation. Epidemiology, pathophysiology, as well as current and emerging therapies of HRS are discussed in this review.
文摘Many patients with pancreas cancer present with locally advanced pancreatic cancer(LAPC).The principle tools used for diagnosis and staging of LAPC include endoscopic ultrasound,axial imaging with computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging,and diagnostic laparoscopy.The definition of resectability has historically been vague,as there is considerable debate and controversy as to the definition of LAPC.For the patient with LAPC,there is some level of involvement of the surrounding vascular structures,which include the superior mesenteric artery,celiac axis,hepatic artery,superior mesenteric vein,or portal vein.When feasible,most surgeons would recommend possible surgical resection for patients with borderline LAPC,with the goal of an R0 resection.For initially unresectable LAPC,neoadjuvant should be strongly considered.Specifically,these patients should be offered neoadjuvant therapy,and the tumor should be assessed for possible response and eventual resection.The efficacy of neoadjuvant therapy with this approach as a bridge to potential curative resection is broad,ranging from 3%-79%.The different modalities of neoadjuvant therapy include sin-gle or multi-agent chemotherapy combined with radiation,chemotherapy alone,and chemotherapy followed by chemotherapy with radiation.This review focuses on patients with LAPC and addresses recent advances and controversies in the field.
文摘Intractable bleeding from gastric and duodenal ulcers is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Aggressive treatment with early endoscopic hemostasis is essential for a favourable outcome. In as many as 12%-17% of patients,endoscopy is either not available or unsuccessful. Endovascular therapy with selective catheterization of the culprit vessel and injection of embolic material has emerged as an alternative to emergent operative intervention in high-risk patients. There has not been a systematic literature review to assess the role for embolotherapy in the treatment of acute upper gastrointestinal bleeding from gastroduo-denal ulcers after failed endoscopic hemostasis. Here,we present an overview of indications,techniques,and clinical outcomes after endovascular embolization of acute peptic-ulcer bleeding. Topics of particular relevance to technical and clinical success are also discussed. Our review shows that transcatheter arterial embolization is a safe alternative to surgery for massive gastroduodenal bleeding that is refractory to endoscopic treatment,can be performed with high technical and clinical success rates,and should be considered the salvage treatment of choice in patients at high surgical risk.
文摘Despite improvements in the multi-modality treatment of colorectal liver metastasis (CRLM), survival after resection remains varied. Determining prognosis after surgical resection has historically been predicated on preoperative clinicopathological factors such as primary tumor stage, carcinoembryonic antigen levels, number of liver metastases, presence of extrahepatic disease, as well as other factors. While scoring systems have been developed by combining certain preoperative fac- tors, these have been inconsistent in accurately deter- mining prognosis. There has been increasing interest in the use of biologic and molecular markers to predict prognosis following CRLM. The role of markers such as KRAS, BRAF, p53, human telomerase reverse transcrip- tase, thymidylate synthase, Ki-67, and hypoxia inducible factor-1α and their correlation with accurately predict- ing survival after surgical resection have been sup- ported by several studies. Furthermore, other elements such as pathological response to chemotherapy and the presence of circulating tumor cells have shown promise in accurately determining prognosis after resection for colorectal liver metastasis.We herein review past, present, and possible future markers of prognosis among colorectal cancer patients with liver metastasis undergo-ing resection with curative intent.
文摘We present the results from a patient with relapsing optic neuropathy treated within the Stem Cell Ophthalmology Treatment Study (SCOTS). SCOTS is an Institutional Review Board ap- proved clinical trial and has become the largest ophthalmology stem cell study registered at the National Institutes of Health to date (www.clinicaltrials.gov Identifier NCT 01920867). SCOTS utilizes autologous bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMSCs) for treatment of retinal and optic nerve diseases. Pre-treatment and post-treatment comprehensive eye exams of a 54 year old female patient were performed both at the Florida Study Center, USA and at The Eye Center of Columbus, USA. As a consequence of a relapsing optic neuritis, the patient's previously normal visual acuity decreased to between 20/350 and 20/400 in the right eye and to 20/70 in the left eye. Significant visual field loss developed bilaterally. The patient underwent a right eye vitrectomy with injection of BMSCs into the optic nerve of the right eyeand retrobulbar, subtenon and in- travitreal injection of BMSCs in the left eye. At 15 months after SCOTS treatment, the patient's visual acuity had improved to 20/150 in the right eye and 20/20 in the left eye. Bilateral visual fields improved markedly. Both macular thickness and fast retinal nerve fiber layer thickness were maximally improved at 3 and 6 months after SCOTS treatment. The patient also reduced her mycophenylate dose from 1,500 mg per day to 500 mg per day and required no steroid pulse therapy during the 15-month follow up.
文摘Priapism is defined as a prolonged and persistent erection of the penis without sexual stimulation. This is a poorly understood disease process with little information on the pathophysiology of this erectile disorder. Complications from this disorder are devastating due to the irreversible erectile damage and resultant erectile dysfunction (ED). Stuttering priapism, though relatively rare, affects a high prevalence of men with sickle-cell disease (SCD) and presents a challenging problem with guidelines for treatment lacking or resulting in permanent ED. The mechanisms involved in the development of priapism in this cohort are poorly characterized; therefore, medical management of priapism represents a therapeutic challenge to urologists. Additional research is warranted, so we can effectively target treatments for these patients with prevention as the goal. This review gives an introduction to stuttering priapism and its clinical significance, specifically with regards to the patient with SCD. Additionally, the proposed mechanisms behind its pathophysiology and a summary of the current and future targets for medical management are discussed.
文摘Erectile dysfunction (ED) commonly results from endothelial dysfunction of the systemic vasculature. Although phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5) inhibitors are effective at treating most cases of ED, they must be taken routinely and are ineffectual for a meaningful number of men. In recent years gene and stem cell-based therapies targeted at the penile endothelium have been gaining momentum in preclinical studies. These early studies reveal that gene and stem cell-based therapies may be both enduring and efficacious, and may eventually lead to a cure for ED. The following review will highlight our current understanding of endothelial-specific gene and stem cell-based therapies performed to date in a number of experimental animal models.
文摘According to the United States census bureau 20% of Americans will be older than 65 years in 2030 and half of them will need an operation- equating to about 36 million older surgical patients. Older adults are prone to complications during gastrointestinal cancer treatment and therefore may need to undergo special pretreatment assessments that incorporate frailty and sarcopenia assessments. A focused, structured literature review on Pub Med and Google Scholar was performed to identify primary research articles, review articles, as well as practice guidelines on frailty and sarcopenia among patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery. The initial search identified 450 articles; after eliminating duplicates, reports that did not include surgical patients, case series, as well as case reports, 42 publications on the impact of frailty and/or sarcopenia on outcome of patients undergoing gastrointestinal surgery were included. Frailty is defined as a clinically recognizable state of increased vulnerability to physiologic stressors resulting from aging. Frailty is associated with a decline in physiologic reserve and function across multiple physiologic systems. Sarcopenia is a syndrome characterized by progressive and generalized loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. Unlike cachexia, which is typically associated with weight loss due to chemotherapy or a general malignancy-related cachexia syndrome, sarcopenia relates to muscle mass rather than simply weight. As such, while weight reflects nutritional status, sarcopenia- the loss of muscle mass- is a more accurate and quantitative global marker of frailty. While chronologic age is an important element in assessing a patient's peri-operative risk, physiologic age is a more important determinant of outcomes. Geriatric assessment tools are important components of the preoperative work-up and can help identify patients who suffer from frailty. Such data are important, as frailty and sarcopenia have repeatedly been demonstrated among the strongest predictors of both short- and longterm outcome following complicated surgical procedures such as esophageal, gastric, colorectal, and hepatopancreatico-biliary resections.
文摘Congestive heart failure(CHF) is one of the most common reasons for hospitalization in the United States. Despite multiple different beneficial medications for the treatment of chronic CHF, there are no therapies with a demonstrated mortality benefit in the treatment of acute decompensated heart failure. In fact, studies of inotropes used in this setting have demonstrated more harm than good. Arginine vasopressin has been shown to be up regulated in CHF. When bound to the V1 a and/or V2 receptors, vasopressin causes vasoconstriction, left ventricular remodeling and free water reabsorption. Recently, two drugs have been approved for use that antagonize these receptors. Studies thus far have indicated that these medications, while effective at aquaresis(free water removal), are safe and not associated with increased morbidity such as renal failure and arrhythmias. Both conivaptan and tolvaptan have been approved for the treatment of euvolemic and hypervolemic hyponatremia. We review the results of these studies in patients with heart failure.